Abstract: A load shedding system for shedding loads within a building to maintain power demand within the building below a predetermined level (i.e. current demand limit) wherein the loads which can be shed are those which affect or control actual conditions in the zones associated with the loads is disclosed having condition sensors for sensing conditions such as temperature in the zones of a building and a control apparatus responsive to the conditions being sensed by the condition sensors and connected to the loads for shedding the loads in order of those loads affecting or controlling the zones having the least deviation between the actual condition and a desired condition being shed first and those loads affecting or controlling those zones having the most deviation being shed last to maintain power demand below the predetermined level.

Abstract: Device for detecting the direction and change of rotational speed of a rotating element. In one embodiment, a pair of phototransistors which are energized by a light source according to an ordered sequence through a disk formed by opaque and transparent sectors coupled to the rotating element. The two phototransistors controls, when energized the switching on of two transistors which enable the discharge of two capacitors, charging with a predetermined time constant in the interval time between discharges. The discharge control action of one of the two phototransistors on a first capacitance is however conditioned by the charge level reached by the other capacitance and therefore both by the order in which phototransistors are energized and by the energization frequency. If the energization frequency is lower than a certain limit or the energization order is not the correct one, the first capacitor reaches a charge level higher than a reference value and supplies an indication signal accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method correcting data groups within a data stream to form a corrected data stream and providing for selecting between the data stream and the corrected data stream as desired.

Abstract: A communication processor is coupled to recognize and handle on a priority basis, service interrupt requests from a plurality of communication line adapters. The processor is also adapted to perform a firmware-controlled scan of the communication line adapters, completely independently of any data transfers involving such adapters, to determine the status of the communication lines handled thereby and, on detection of a status which is changed from a previously stored status, to store the new status in the processor and take any action necessary as indicated by a command previously stored in the processor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for complex, high density microcircuits in which thick film dielectric pastes are photolithography patterned into high resolution stencils to produce complementary conductor circuitry patterns, the voids of the developed dielectric stencil are filled with thick film conductor paste, and then there is a cofiring of the conductor and the dielectric. With this new process the number of separate firing operations is reduced. The reduction in the number of firings is important in multilevel hybrid structures.

Abstract: A heating system of the type having a combustion chamber with a fuel burner, an inlet for combustion air and an exhaust stack is improved by adding a variable-speed induced draft blower, a flow-restricting stack orifice and a fuel valve sensitive to the exhaust gas flow rate through the stack orifice. The fuel valve turns on at a first predetermined exhaust gas flow rate and turns off at a second predetermined exhaust gas flow rate, which is lower than the first predetermined rate. The fuel valve also supplies fuel at a rate proportional to the exhaust gas flow rate. Sensing of the differential pressure across the stack orifice is used to determine the exhaust gas flow rate.

Abstract: A communications channel monitoring system is disclosed for digitally based communication channels carrying signals corrupted by noise. The monitor system provides a signal indicative of the expected value of the communication channel signal if uncorrupted by noise and provides a signal indicating the extent of any such corruption.

Abstract: An improvement to an automatic document handling machine of the kind having at least one processing station and possibly a guide track to hold and transport documents to the processing station. The processing station or the guide track includes an entry port for documents and a unit insertion means for inserting one of said documents into the processing station or the guide track. The insertion means comprising a support means for the document which includes an exit port for documents, a drive means capable of making contact with the document in the said support means to feed the document towards the exit, and an engaging means which is adapted to produce relative movement between support means and the drive means. The insertion means is arranged close to the processing station or the guide track and is positioned in such a way that the document exit port faces the document entry port at least when the said engaging means is operated.

Abstract: A data processing system employing firmware for executing a self test routine each time the system goes through the power-up cycle. The self test firmware provides for compilation of a system configuration map during each execution so that configuration and status data is made available for accessing by the system operation firmware and application software. This enables external systems to set appropriate interrupt vectors and levels and to arrange their physical I/O and device handlers so that various devices within the local system can be accessed. The routines performed in the self test operation include a CPU test, a RAM test, a real time clock test, a communication controller loop-back test, a ROM signature calculation, a controller I/O test, a system configuration map compilation, and a status display routine.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus for encoding, storing, updating and decoding data indicating the order of usage of memory locations as in a cache memory. An array of memory bits is encoded by a field programmable logic array each time a memory device or other peripheral is accessed by a method which need change only a portion of all the memory bits in a row. Each row corresponds to a group of memory locations or peripherals to be monitored. When the order of usage of a group of monitored locations is to be determined a field programmable logic array decodes the corresponding row and outputs a signal indicating the least recently used one of the memory locations of interest.

Abstract: A pneumatic device is arranged for reducing positive feedback and includes a housing having a diaphragm defining a control chamber, the control chamber being connected to an input and having a pressure therein dependent upon an input pressure, the control chamber having a nozzle therein and operatively associated with the diaphragm so that the position of the diaphragm with respect to the nozzle controls the pressure within the control chamber, the nozzle being sloped for substantially reducing positive feedback resulting from bleeding of the pressure from the nozzle into the control chamber and an output connected to the control chamber for providing an output pressure.

Abstract: A system for determining the range to an object utilizing a plurality of radiation responsive detectors arranged in groupings wherein a first grouping of detectors receives radiation from the object in a first pattern and the second grouping of detectors receives radiation from the object in a second pattern. The patterns move with respect to one another as the distance between the object and the system changes. The range is determined from a determination of the relative position of the patterns by computing where the patterns will coincide if the focusing lens of the system is moved. The output is a signal having a characteristic indicative of the desired direction of motion of the lens and a characteristic indicative of the amount of such motion necessary to produce a proper focus condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an analog signal before it is converted into steep-sided pulses wherein a variable D.C. voltage is generated whose variation is representative of the change in values of the negative-going portions of the analog signal. A voltage summing means receives on the one hand the analog signal and on the other hand the variable D.C. voltage to provide steep-sided output pulses in synchronization with the "significant" portions of the analog signal.

Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system for controlling the defrosting of one of the heat exchange coils thereof; the control system comprising a nozzle element positioned adjacent to one side of the evaporator coil at a point where frost may build up on the evaporator coil; compressed air means connected to the nozzle through valve means and controllable to selectively permit air to be discharged from a nozzle against the coil; air flow sensor means positioned on the other side of the evaporator coil in register with a nozzle, the sensor means including switch means adapted to be actuated upon said sensor being impacted by a stream of air; and controller means adapted to periodically actuate the valve means so as to cause periodic pulses of air to flow from the nozzle through the evaporator coil, said controller further functioning to place the system into a defrost mode of operation upon said sensor switch means being unactuated for a period of time exceeding the cycle period of the actuation of the val

Abstract: Exposed surfaces of a layer of a copper thick film paste on a multilayer substrate are cleaned after being fired so that such surfaces are readily solderable to the extent that conventional tin/lead solders will wet said surfaces. The substrate with the exposed surfaces of a layer of a fired copper thick film paste is cleaned by being immersed in a warm dilute solution of an acid containing a fluoride ion, such as HF or HBF.sub.4 for a short period of time. After the short period of time of immersion has elapsed, the substrate is removed from the dilute acid solution and rinsed to remove substantially all traces of the cleaning solution.

Abstract: A multistage thermostat is operated by comparing the thermostat setpoint and the sensed temperature over a continuous series of discrete intervals of time. When a sudden change occurs between the sensed temperature and the setpoint, the magnitude of this change is evaluated in a comparator means and if necessary the system is reset to compensate for the change to operate in the most efficient manner. The adjustment of a constant supplied to an integrating circuit that forms part of a signal processing circuit means for the thermostat means provides the adjustment when the predetermined level of change is made.

Abstract: A tape transport control system for monitoring the amount of tape on a tape reel using a first transducer means to provide a signal representative of the rotational speed of the tape reel. A fixed frequency oscillator is arranged to provide signals to be counted by a programmable variable modulo counter. The counter is programmed to start a countdown at a count preset by a digital word applied from a speed control selector for the tape transport. An output signal from the counter indicative of a fully decremented count status is applied to a two input AND gate which has as a second input signal an output signal from the reel transducer. An output signal from the AND gate is applied to the speed control selector to produce an interruption of an energizing signal to a capstan motor drive.

Abstract: A follower element flowmeter which includes a hollow enclosed toroidal path around which a follower element travels in response to a flowing fluid. A pair of sensors are located adjacent to the fluid inlet and outlet to sense the passage of the follower element. The transit times of the follower element from inlet to outlet and from outlet to inlet is determined. The internal torus is described by juxtaposed housing halves one of which contains the fluid inlet and one, the fluid outlet. The halves are constructed so as to be relatively rotatable such that the distance between the inlet and outlet may be varied to adjust the calibration of the flowmeter.

Abstract: A hardware logic timing system for a tape device adapter is disclosed for accommodating the exchange of control information and data between a medium performance device controller (MPDC) and mass storage devices. Plural timing frequencies exhibiting selectively variable phase relationships are provided for increased operating mode flexibility. More particularly, 1.times.1, 4.times.3, 8.times.5, 8.times.7 or 8.times.9 data packing or depacking operations with or without code conversion are supported during both data reads and data writes.The logic timing system is responsive to the MPDC and each of the mass storage devices, and may operate in clear, wait, normal or burst modes to preserve information integrity while maintaining commercially acceptable transfer rates.

Abstract: A device is provided for automatically determining the storage capacity of a data processing or transmission system and signalling when the storage capacity is inadequate to handle an incoming address. The store includes a plurality of storage fractions made up of storage modules adopted to be plugged into a printed circuit board having a conductor pattern thereon and connector locations disposed along the conductor pattern. The modules may be plugged into the circuit board and a full storage fraction is established when electrical continuity is established along the whole length of a conductor which connects all of the location localities assigned to a storage fraction. The conductor pattern is interrupted at the connection localities of the modules of one and the same storage fraction.