Abstract: A monitoring system is provided with a two tier communication network. Multiple first tier nodes comprising wireless or RF sensors are each equipped with transceivers operating at a first, low power level. Multiple second tier nodes are spaced to communicate with selected sensors at the lower bandwidth level, and also communicate with each other at a higher power level and higher bandwidth, to route sensor communications to a central controller. The sensors comprise standard home and small business sensors such as motion detectors, glass breakage, pressure, temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide sensors to name a few, each equipped with a transceiver. The sensors are placed throughout a structure to be protected or monitored. Since such structures can be quite large, several second tier routers are provided such that at least one is within range of each sensor to receive its low power signals.

Abstract: A network architecture (100) that supports periodic and aperiodic data transmissions over a network databus. The network (100) comprising a plurality of Network Interface Controller (NIC) modules (120, 169) configured to communicate with each other with at least one of the modules acting as a master NIC modules (120) and configured to allocate data transmission bandwidth on the network databus (114) using a set of priority sequences stored in a table (158) accessible by the master NIC (154) within the master timing NIC module (120). The table (158) is used by the master NIC (120) to allocate bandwidth on the network databus (114) after transmission of periodic data and according to priority, length and frame sequence. In this way, aperiodic data from some NIC modules is guaranteed a certain amount of bandwidth on the network databus (114).

Abstract: A graphical user interface for providing real-time process information to a user with regard to a process that is operable under control of one or more process variables includes a scale extending along a gauge axis and one or more bars extending along the gauge axis. Each bar is representative of a set of high and low process limit values for a process variable. Further, the graphical user interface includes a graphical shape displayed along the gauge axis representative of a current value of the process variable. A computer implemented method for providing the graphical user interface is also provided.

Abstract: A screen assembly that combines an angle re-distributing prescreen with a conventional diffusion screen. The prescreen minimizes or eliminates the sensitivity of the screen assembly to projector location. The diffusion screen provides other desirable screen characteristics. Compatible screen structures, along with methods for fabricating high resolution prescreens and methods and devices for maintaining the desired relationship between the prescreen and the diffusion screen are contemplated.

Abstract: A rotary knob is integrated into a cursor control console and facilitates entering of alpha and numeric data into an aircraft computer system. The console houses both a cursor control device and the rotary knob. The rotary knob is located within finger reach of the cursor control device such that an operator can manipulate either control with only movement of the users fingers, hand, and/or wrist. An operator manipulates the cursor control device to select a desired parameter. The operator then spins or rotates the knob to select the desired alpha or numeric value.

Abstract: A graphical user display for providing real-time process information to a user for a process that is operable under control of one or more process variables is described. The graphical user display includes one or more graphical devices with each graphical device corresponding to a process variable. At least one graphical device for a corresponding process variable includes a gauge axis and at least one pair of high and low limit elements displayed on the gauge axis is representative of high and low process limit values for the corresponding process variable. A graphical shape displayed along the gauge axis is representative of the current value of the corresponding process variable relative to the process limit values. A computer implemented method for providing the at least one graphical device is also provided.

Abstract: A transmission line transmits light from a remote source to a light sensor affixed to a display unit to provide a variation in the display characteristics of the display unit based at least in part upon the remote light intensity. A reception end is integrally formed as part of the transmission line and is physically separated from the light sensor. The reception end gathers the remote light for transmission by the transmission line. An emission end is integrally formed as part of the transmission line and presents the remote light, transmitted by the transmission line, to the light sensor such that the variation in the display characteristics of the display unit may be provided based at least in part upon the remote light intensity.

Abstract: A method of making a gaseous fluid data sensor assembly for acquiring data regarding the ambient environment adjacent a surface of an airframe with adjacent air speeds below 40 knots (or another aerodynamic structure with low speed gaseous fluid flow adjacent thereto) having a flexible substrate adhesively conforming to the airframe surface, a conformable cover layer and a relatively thin air data sensor for sensing air pressure between the substrate and the cover layer. The method includes forming a flexible printed circuit on a polymeric film, attaching thin air data sensor to the printed circuit and attaching a flexible substrate to form a conformal air data sensor. The method may also include attaching a data acquisition circuit to the printed circuit and may still further include providing an optical interconnection between the air data sensor and the data acquisition circuit.

Abstract: An application provides access by multiple user processes to a single network process. The application includes a socket library and a network process which contains the device driver software for a plurality of network devices and components. The socket library provides the interface mechanism to the network process and can be created as a static or dynamically linked library. All user processes access a singular network process by calling a function in the socket library. The socket library communicates with the network process by formatting a message containing all the information necessary for the network process to fulfill the intent of the API call. The network process sends a message that is received by the socket library which, in turn, transmits to the user process the return value and any data received from the network process.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is used to quickly and easily find data patterns within a data sequence that match a target data pattern representing an event of interest. The user first specifies the target data pattern either by dragging a cursor over the target or by selecting the target from a palette of predefined trend patterns. Search criteria, such as a match threshold and amplitude and duration constraints, are then specified. A pattern recognition technique is then used to find data patterns within the data sequence that satisfy the search criteria. These matching data patterns are then presented to the user ranked by similarity, avoiding the need for the user to sift through large amounts of irrelevant data. Particular pattern recognition algorithms are also disclosed.

Abstract: A time-partitioned system for accounting for processor time consumed by operating system services provided on behalf of an application running in a real-time environment. The time utilized by the operating system is treated as being application processing time, rather than viewing the resultant processor time consumed as an operating system overhead. Each application consists of one or more threads. A time budget is assigned to each thread and to each interrupt. The processor time consumed by the operating system when executing on behalf of a thread or interrupt is charged back to the application or interrupt as part of the application's time budget. Operating system overheads and processor interrupts are thus accounted for accurately enough to determine a schedule for the applications which is enforceable by the operating system.

Abstract: A global resource manager is provided for each node of a plurality of nodes of a distributed data processing system. Each node can be a coordinator node, an intermediate node, and a leaf node depending on the node at which a session arrives for global processing. In response to the arriving sessions, the global resource managers implement ripple scheduling by conducting a global QoS negotiation and adaptation, and preemption if necessary, in order to determine if the arriving session is supportable by the distributed data processing system. More specifically, the resource managers of all nodes determine whether their corresponding nodes can support the arriving session. The resource managers of the coordinator node and all intermediate nodes request their child nodes to indicate whether the child nodes can support the arriving session. The resource managers of all intermediate nodes and all leaf nodes respond to their coordinating or intermediate nodes with an indication of supportability.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting malfunctions in control valves is disclosed. The system comprises a test unit that is capable of being coupled to a feedback controller that is coupled to a control valve. From the feedback controller the test unit obtains process variable data and output data associated with the control valve. A test unit controller in the test unit 1) forms a data pattern from the process variable data and output data associated with the control valve, and 2) compares the data pattern with a diagnostic data pattern of a valve malfunction or valve fault. When the data pattern matches the diagnostic data pattern of the valve fault, the test unit controller determines that the control valve is experiencing a valve fault. The system and method of the present invention does not require the control valve to be taken out of operation during the diagnostic testing.

Abstract: A beam folder increases optical length with polarizing beam splitters and reflectors that repolarize a beam by retarding it. An incident beam encounters the beam splitters multiple times, and are both passed and rejected by the same splitters. The splitters and repolarizing reflectors can be shaped to perform optical functions in a smaller volume. Valves and controls can varyl the beam intensity and combine multiple beams. Applications include projection, imaging, collimating, mixing, and balancing.

Abstract: A filter is disclosed for recursive state estimation of a process by matrix factorization. The filter preferably takes the general form of P=XY, where P is a matrix of previous state and/or current observations, Y is a matrix of functions that are used to model the process, and X is a coefficient matrix relating the functions in matrix Y to the previous state and/or current observations of matrix P. Given the previous state and/or current observations, a value for matrix Y can be computed from which a current state estimate can be recovered.

Abstract: The present invention provides several apparatus, methods, and computer program products for generating a terrain clearance floor envelope for use in a ground proximity warning system. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor that defines a terrain clearance floor envelope having at least two boundaries. In this embodiment, the processor defines at least one of the boundaries based on a runway position quality factor, an altitude data quality factor, and an aircraft position quality factor. Using these factors, the processor of the present invention can more precisely define the boundaries of the envelope about the selected runway. Further, the processor of the present invention does not unnecessarily increase the region between the envelope and runway where no ground proximity alarms are generated.

Abstract: A time-efficient inter-process communication method (50, 60) and protocol allowing producers and consumers to execute at any combination of periods, where producers (12) and consumers (14, 16, 18) are isolated from execution ordering variations. The method and protocol is for periodic broadcast-type inter-process communication in a harmonic rate system. The system has a plurality of threads sharing a memory space (42) and including consuming threads and producing threads having potentially different rates. The producing threads have a period and are adapted to produce a message consumable by said consuming threads. The memory space (42) includes a plurality of buffers (44) for messages produced. The method includes the step of writing (58) a copy of said produced message to a buffer in said memory space during said producing thread's period, wherein only one copy of said produced message is written, regardless of the difference in rates between producing and consuming threads.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, and apparati for fail passive error detection and control of a linear actuator recentering system. In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, linear actuator controls are designed to be fail passive. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a recentering device is provided which receives a signal from an independent motion direction sensor and enables continuous monitoring of a recentering function, thereby detecting recentering control failures. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprises a recentering motor control commutation device, an actuator movement direction sensor and an inverse commutation device for determining a centering polarity. The centering polarity is further provided to an aircraft control system which suitably provides continuous verification of the recentering commutation by comparison to linear actuator position determined by another sensor.

Abstract: Systems, methods and protocol for assuring separation of aircraft during parallel approaches. The systems, methods and protocol function in cooperation with existing TCAS to facilitate approaches of multiple aircraft on closely-spaced parallel runways. The systems, methods and protocol utilize data transmissions from equipped aircraft to obtain tracking information which is used in separation algorithms to generate alerts to an observer of possible threats. The systems, methods and protocol facilitate parallel approaches to closely-spaced parallel runways under Instrument Approach Procedure.

Abstract: A display according to various aspects of the present invention comprises an LCD having a first substrate, a second substrate proximate the first substrate, a liquid crystal material located between the first and second substrates, an element for compensating for horizontal view angle limitations of the display. The LCD may further include a nonmechanical element for vertically shifting the viewing angle associated with the high-contrast viewing envelope of the LCD device.