Abstract: A method of acquiring dimensional and gauge data of objects and work pieces, such as forgings or the like, uses two image producing sensors, each being up and down tiltable about a horizontal axis and swivable from side to side about a vertical axis. At least one of the sensors is directed initially towards the object for acquiring position data on a particular point of the object such as a point of intersection of two contrast lines. One of these sensors is then positioned, including tilting and/or swiveling until a particular image field point coincides with the intersection point whereupon the other sensor has a particular image field point trained on that same particular intersection point. Finally, dimensional and guage data of the object is derived from angular position data of multiple points as so acquired by the two sensors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus estimates fault coverage of a set of test vectors to be applied to a circuit containing sequential elements. The apparatus permits sequential elements to be represented as functional blocks rather than combinational circuits with feedback. This is accomplished by taking into account the external state of the sequential element during circuit simulation. The apparatus also takes into account high impedance as possible inputs and outputs.

Abstract: A melt flow index measurement device includes a sample enclosure (125), a loading device (90) for applying a sample under pressure to the enclosure, a pressure sensor (112) for determining the pressure within the enclosure upstream of the restriction, an output port (130) in the enclosure downstream of the restriction, and a temperature control (91, 92, 76) and monitoring system for determining the sample temperature within the enclosure. A data processor computes the melt flow index from successive measurements of pressure and flow rate through the output orifice or restriction under operating conditions, and derives from those computations the melt flow index of a sample under a predetermined set of standard conditions.

Abstract: System operating regimes are identified by dividing a range of each one of a plurality of sensed system parameters into a plurality of predetermined range segments, assigning an alphanumeric character to each range segment of each parameter, and generating a composite number, each digit of which is made up of one of the alphanumeric range segment characters of each parameter. Apparatus compares the current sensed values of each parameter to the corresponding predetermined range segments to determine the current range segment of each sensed parameter, generates a current composite number made up of the current range segments of all of the parameters, and compares the current composite number to a plurality of predetermined system operating regimes to determine if the current composite number identifies one of a plurality of system operating regimes.

Abstract: Diagnosis data for respective portions of an apparatus are collected from respective sensors provided on the apparatus at the respective portions thereof and stored in a memory for each of the respective portions. These diagnosis data are the amount of change with time and frequency of occurrence of abnormal operation. The amount of change with time is yielded from the number of treatments for a detection object of each sensor, while the frequency of occurrence of abnormal operations is provided as a ratio of the number of anbormal operations detected by the respective sensors to the number of treatments by the particular object or part involved. The resulting diagnosis data is compared with a predetermined reference value, and when the diagnosis data exceeds the reference value, a prediction alarm flag indicative of a prediction of necessary maintencance to prevent trouble from occuring is added to the diagnosis data and stored in the memory.

Abstract: An adaptive signal processor, used for discriminating between a desired signal and several undesired signals, includes an arrangement of sensors, which samples the signals and forms a set of parallel electrical outputs each of which is proportional to a different linear combination of the desired and interfering signals, a set of complex weights, each of which multiplies a corresponding one of the electrical outputs thus forming a set of weighted signals, a coherent summing junction which coherently sums the weighted signals, thus producing a final output of the processor and a set of improved control loops which sample the parallel electrical outputs and the final output and generate from them a set of control signals to control the complex weights so as to drive them to optimal, steady states, and thereby to suppress the interfering signals and to preserve the desired signal at the final output of the processor.

Abstract: A multiple channel data acquisition system for the transfer of large amounts of data from a multiplicity of data channels has a plurality of modules which operate in parallel to convert analog signals to digital data and transfer that data to a communications host via a FASTBUS. Each module has a plurality of submodules which include a front end buffer (FEB) connected to input circuitry having an analog to digital converter with cache memory for each of a plurality of channels. The submodules are interfaced with the FASTBUS via a FASTBUS coupler which controls a module bus and a module memory. The system is triggered to effect rapid parallel data samplings which are stored to the cache memories. The cache memories are uploaded to the FEBs during which zero suppression occurs. The data in the FEBs is reformatted and compressed by a local processor during transfer to the module memory. The FASTBUS coupler is used by the communications host to upload the compressed and formatted data from the module memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a weighted average of three input values under the control of a processor includes a step of determining which of the three input values is the median value, with the remaining input values being first and second values. Then, first and second weighting factors are calculated based on a predetermined median weighting factor and the three input values. Finally, a weighted average is calculated based on the first and second weighting factors, the predetermined median weighting factor, the first and second input values and the median input value. The three input values may be sensed values provided by a temperature sensor in a nuclear power plant.

Abstract: A method for accumulating stress damage induced by temperature differentials in a rotor of a high pressure steam turbine utilizes a representation of stress damage corresponding to a period of continuous temperature change. A counter variable associated with the representation of stress damage is incremented each time there is a significant change in direction of change in stress induced in the rotor. Accumulated stress damage is calculated by summing the products of each counter variable times a coefficient of stress damage corresponding to that counter variable. Accumulated stress damage is added to previously accumulated stress damage, calculated prior to resetting of the counter variables, to produce total accumulated stress damage. The total accumulated stress damage is printed on a permanent storage medium, such as paper, and it is compared with an alarm setpoint. If the alarm setpoint is exceeded, a message is sent to the operator and the operation of the steam turbine may also be adjusted.

Abstract: An apparatus is used in the production of a monocrystalline rod by Czochralski method and is adapted for measuring the diameter of the monocrystalline rod at the melt surface of the melt by processing image signal derived from an image sensor. The measurement of the diameter is conducted by determining the diameter of the monocrystalline rod at the melt surface by processing the output signal from the image sensor, and multiplying the rod image diameter with a function of the difference between the initial melt surface level and a melt surface corrected in accordance with a change in the temperature in the apparatus chamber or a change in the leval of the electrical power supplied to a heater for heating a crucible.

Abstract: A digital noise reducer includes an addition circuit for adding a digital input video signal supplied at one input thereof and a signal supplied at the other input thereof and for outputting a resultant sum signal, a delay circuit for delaying the output signal of the addition circuit by an input unit period of the digital input video signal, a subtraction circuit supplied with the digital input video signal and an output signal of the delay circuit, the subtraction circuit forming and outputting a difference component signal for the digital input video signal and the output signal of the delay circuit, and a characteristic adjustment circuit for manipulating a signal characteristic of the difference component output of the subtraction circuit in accordance with the characteristic of the difference component signal outputted from the subtraction circuit and/or a characteristic of a digital output video signal outputted from the addition circuit and for outputting a resultant manipulated signal to the other in

Abstract: An apparatus detects the degree of crowding in an elevator hall utilizing a television camera to provide video signals which are stored as video data and including an illumination controller which controls the brightness of an illuminator for the elevator hall when the difference between reference data and video data has exceeded a predetermined value and has continued for a predetermined time, so that the difference between the reference data and the video data may fall within the predetermined value.

Abstract: A water conservation system that connects between a standard irrigation system that is controlled by a clock, and the water control valves of that system in order to limit the flow of water during timed irrigation cycles. When the timed watering cycles are initiated by the standard irrigation system, the water conservation device senses the moisture in the soil and compares it with preset wet and dry moisture limits and scales back each of the watering cycles in proportion to the moisture content of the ground to thereby conserve irrigation water that is applied to a ground area. The device includes a moisture sensor, a central processing unit, and a solid state memory that is connected to the central processing unit and the moisture sensor.

Abstract: A stability meter comprises a translational accelerometer (1) which has a working axis along which it is sensitive to gravity. The meter is mounted on a vessel with the working axis horizontal when the vessel is in the upright position such that it transmits signals proportional to the sine of the angle of roll of the vessel to a microprocessor based apparatus (2). A microprocessor (12) conducts a Fast Fourier Transform on a plurality of samples from the accelerometer (1) in order to determine the dominant rolling frequency. The apparatus (2) comprises a display (8), a printer (9), a keyboard (10), a clock (14) and memory unit (16). The dominant rolling frequency is used to calculate the transverse metacentric height of the vessel. The value of the transverse metacentric height is transmitted to the display (8) as a measure of the stability of the vessel.

Abstract: A building management system enables error-free operation of utility devices in the building by limiting an operator's access to controls for the utility devices to those devices that the operator is authorized to control. The system includes a terminal unit and a central station. The operator inputs various commands via the terminal unit, and the central station verifies that the operator entering the commands is authorized to control the devices designated by the commands before performing the input operation command. The system also verifies that the input operation command is a correct command.

Abstract: A portable, microprocessor-based data collection unit can be plugged directly into traffic detectors for recording event data, such as traffic volume, disconnected from the traffic detector without loss of data, and then plugged directly into a personal computer to unload the data, communicating via a serial communications cable without any additional interface device or reader. Developed with retrofitting in mind, with its own microprocessor, and battery-powered real-time clock and data storage all interconnected in one circuit, the data collection unit can use existing air switches/loop detectors and power supplies of prior traffic counters. The microprocessor, with suitable software burned into an EPROM, can operate as a microcomputer for interchangeably collecting traffic data and unloading the data to another computer via a common connector.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based control/status monitoring arrangement allows for replacement of mechanical memory, cam-operated control board switches, such as used in controlling and monitoring the operation of a conventional electrical power generating station. The control/status monitoring arrangement includes and operator input device, such as a keyboard or "touch screen" cathode ray tube (CRT), to permit operator entries, as well as a video display to provide visual information relating to the operating system, e.g., power generating station, being monitored and controlled. The control/status monitoring arrangement not only offers the advantages of the prior art cam-operated mechanical switches in a solid state system with programming flexibility, but also provides additional equipment status indications and controls, e.g., Lockout, Tripped, Auto Started, etc., and special interlocks to ensure operating safety.

Abstract: An oscillator outputs an oscillator frequency corresponding to a moving distance of a probe. A counter counts the oscillator frequency of the oscillator. A computer calculates the moving distance. A display unit displays the moving distance computed by the computer. A voltage booster and a voltage stabilizing circuit are connected between the oscillator and a battery. The driving voltage from the battery is supplied to the oscillator through the voltage booster and the voltage stabilizing circuit, and is supplied to the counter, computer and the display unit without passing through the voltage booster and the voltage stabilizing circuit in order to reduce the power dissipation.

Abstract: An analog associative processor (12) discriminates between intersects representing targets and intersects representing ghosts from angle-only information from multiple sensors (10). The analog associative processor (12) is constructed using a multi-layer substrate that is an analog of the real-world sensor emplacements, angular sensor traces, and coordinate system. An algorithm is implemented by the analog associative processor (12) which detects ghosts by counting pulses received by each intersect from the other intersects. When the number of pulses reaching a given intersect reaches a predetermined threshold, the intersect is identified as a ghost. The analog associative processor (12) then continues until the number of remaining intersects equals the number of total targets. The remaining intersects are then identified as true targets.

Abstract: When a probe of a displacement measuring apparatus is moved, a core member connected to the probe is also moved through coils of an oscillator. A movement distance of the probe is calculated in accordance with a change in an oscillation frequency generated in correpondence with the movement of the core member. If strict displacement measuring is to be performed, the non-linear relationship between the moving distance of the core member and the change in the oscillation frequency must be taken into account, i.e., the relationship therebetween is measured in linear manner, the movement distance is calculated and then secondary curvature correction is performed to correct for the linear measurement. Therefore, measurement precision of the displacement measuring apparatus can be greatly improved as compared to that of a conventional displacement measuring apparatus.