Abstract: Optical data processing systems are described for processing four NxN matrices A, B, C, D to calculate the expression CA.sup.-1 B+D. Multi-cell spatial light modulators are employed in conjunction with control circuits to perform matrix inversion, multiplication and addition.

Abstract: A method for layered reservoirs without crossflow in order to estimate individual layer permeabilities and skin factors is disclosed. The method consists of two sequential drawdown tests. During these tests the wellbore pressure and the sandface flow must be measured simultaneously. The permeability and skin factor for each layer are estimated uniquely using measured wellbore pressure and sandface flow rate from these two drawdown tests. The method can be generalized straightforwardly to layered reservoirs with crossflow, and can also be used to estimate skin factors for each perforated interval in a single layer reservoir.

Abstract: For a convolver to be operated with an input signal E and with two reference signals A and B, two convolver tracks (or four tracks given self-convolution compensation) are required having input transducers connected in parallel for the input signal E in comparison to the transducers for input of the reference signals A and B. All transducers have fundamentally a same design. However, modified split-finger transducers with floating fingers are provided for the input signal transducers, whereas non-modified split-finger transducers are provided for the reference signals.

Abstract: The device measures blood pressure automatically using the oscillometric technique. The device includes a pressure cuff which is automatically inflated to an initial pressure which is calculated to be above the subject's systolic pressure. The cuff is then deflated stepwise in preset pressure increments while cuff pressure oscillations are sensed at each cuff pressure level and stored in a computer incorporated into the device. Cuff deflation is continued until the cuff pressure is below the subject's diastolic pressure whereupon the cuff is automatically deflated. The computer then fits a calculated parabolic curve onto the greatest cuff pressure oscillation and onto a lesser oscillation on each side of the greatest oscillation. From the thusly derived curve, the computer determines the mean blood pressure, and the systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Abstract: In a travel reservation and information data processing system, airline reservation computers, which are connected to remotely located data processing terminals in travel agents's offices, are also connected to a separate computer having a database containing detailed information on available cruises offered by subscribing cruise line operators. The separate computer is connected to remotely located data processing terminals in the offices of the subscribing cruise lines. The programs of the airline reservation computers are provided facilities to recognize requests for cruise information or cruise bookings received from the travel agents' terminals and to relay these requests to the separate computer. The separate computer responds to the received requests by transmitting back the requested information to the airline reservation computer from which the request was received or by entering a dialog to obtain information from the travel agent's terminal needed to make a booking.

Abstract: A text compiling device includes a first memory area for storing an intervening code program in which a statement or comment is given by a code. The intervening code is read out and is converted to an ASCII code program. The converted ASCII code program is stored in a second memory area, which partly overlaps with the first memory area. Similarly, a reverse conversion can be carried out.

Abstract: In a drill stem test, a packer is set in the well bore to isolate a potential producing zone. A drill pipe with a down hole valve is fitted through the packer. The pipe is usually partially filled with a liquid column prior to commencement of the test, which essentially comprises opening the valve so that formation fluids can flow into the drill pipe and measuring various parameters associated with the fluid transfer. A method for estimating porosity and/or permeability includes the steps of setting up such a drill stem test wherein flow of formation fluid to a drill pipe may be controlled by a down hole valve, opening the valve to establish a flow, recording flow parameters, and analyzing oscillatory transients in the flow to compute therefrom estimates of porosity and permeability.

Abstract: A signal processing method in autoradiography employing a stimulable phosphor sheet for the purpose of obtaining information on the one dimensional location of radioactively labeled substances distributed in at least one dimensional direction on a support medium, in the form of a symbol, numeral or combination thereof, including the steps of:(1) determining a one dimensional scanning line for signal processing; and(2) detecting sampling points on said scanning line,the process being applied to digital signals corresponding to an autoradiograph having the locational information on the radioactively labeled substances, the digital signals being obtained from stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for enables electronic computerized counting of votes cast by voters in an election. The apparatus is adapted to enable electronic computerized recording, counting, and storing of votes cast by voters on ballot cards at precinct polling places remote from a central district office without exposing the ballot card to any person other than the voter. It is further adapted to enable electronic computerized programming and testing of the election at large, control of the introduction of the election into individual precinct formats, and reading, aggregating, and tallying of the stored precinct counts for delivering the results of the election. The apparatus includes a plurality of electronic computerized precinct workstations, each adapted to read, count, and store the votes cast at a precinct polling place, powered by a self-contained battery.

Abstract: Amplitude equalization of a distorted multifrequency signal is accomplished by acousto-modulating the signal with a coherent light beam and focusing a resultant image on a Fourier plane where the frequency components of the image are spatially distributed. A control array, positioned in the plane, contains adjacent elements having optical filtering properties variable with respect to each other thereby selectively altering the optical amplitude of each image frequency component passing through the elements. The resultant transformed image then undergoes conversion to an electrical signal having its amplitude equalized relative to the distorted input signal.

Abstract: Phase equalization of a phase-distorted multifrequency signal is accomplished by acousto-optic modulating a coherent light beam with the signal taking the optical Fourier transform with the resultant Fourier plane containing all frequency components spatially distributed. A control array, positioned in the Fourier plane and/or local oscillator, contains adjacent elements having their birefringence variable with respect to each other thereby selectively altering the light path length and/or amplitude of each frequency component passing through the element. The resultant transformed image then undergoes optical down conversion to obtain the electrical signal having its phase equalized relative to the distorted input signal.

Abstract: Methods of performing complex optical computations, preferably using a programmable optical data processor having a plurality of spatial light modulators to impress data onto a data beam. Data can be applied to a subset of the modulators so as to impress a corresponding data image onto the beam; with uniform data applied to the remaining ones of the modulators so as to impress corresponding uniform data images onto the beam such that the computation performed is dependent on the data applied to the subset of the modulators. Any one of a number of performable optical computations can be programmably performed by providing data to selected subsets of the plurality of spatial modulators.

Abstract: In a railway vehicle safety system, a frequency modulated signal is transmitted to a vehicle informing, inter alia, of a safe maximum speed, the said speed being represented by the carrier modulation frequency. In addition, the frequency of the carrier may possess one of a number of alternative frequencies. Apparatus for analysing received signals to identify the carrier frequency and the modulation frequency employs a fast Fourier transform processor. In order to save computation time by eliminating useless calculations, a received signal is heterodyned by a local signal selected according to the carrier frequency identified and the base-band components are analysed to identify the modulation frequency.

Abstract: An electronic device for measuring blood pressure, according to which either systolic pressure may be derived from mean pressure and diastolic pressure, or diastolic pressure may be derived from systolic pressure and mean pressure, whereby the time duration of the application of pressure to the patient's arm may be reduced because the pressure to be applied may only range substantially over between mean pressure and diastolic pressure or between systolic pressure and mean pressure. Additionally proposed is a means for improving the accuracy of the above-mentioned derivation of systolic pressure or diastolic pressure. As a result, considerable reduction in the time duration required for measurement may be reduced without any increase in measurement errors.

Abstract: A four-quadrant multiplier uses a CMOS digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and just one operational amplifier. The back gates of the CMOS switches in the DAC are biased in the "off" condition during a substantial voltage swing at the output of the DAC. In one embodiment, the back gates of the CMOS switches are held at about -5 V with respect to the output lines, and the logic low level to the off switch also is set at -5 V relative to the output lines. The DAC connections are "reversed" so as to receive the analog input across the terminals intended as the DAC's output, with the inputs of the operational amplifier being connected across the reference voltage terminal and a feedback or output terminal of the DAC.

Abstract: A self service terminal for a lodging facility includes room key dispensing and receiving. The present invention allows a guest to automatically check into a lodging facility, have an appropriate room assigned to him in accordance with his request and obtain a key for a room without the intervention of employees of the lodging facility. The invention also includes an apparatus and method for allowing a guest of a lodging facility to check out at the self service terminal upon departure intervention by employees of the lodging facility, with the self service terminal recovering the room key which the guest had been using.

Abstract: An electronic cash register according to the present invention stores price data on commodities inputted through ten keys (12) and department codes inputted through department keys (13) in a buffer (631) of a RAM (6) and thereafter store the data stored in the buffer (631) of the RAM (6) in a floppy disc (7) and transfer the same to a host computer (8) when a customer requests transaction processing through a credit card and an A key (143) or a B key (144) is operated. Therefore, the transaction data can be stored in external storages only when the A key (143) or B key (144) is operated.

Abstract: A symmetric finite impulse response filter for receiving a digital input signal and generates a filtered analog output signal for application to a balanced line, such as a tip and ring lead pair. Logic levels of predetermined symmetrical bit pairs of the digital input signal are detected and in response, predetermined corresponding capacitors are selectively switched between bias and reference voltages, thereby charging predetermined voltages proportional to the capacitances of the capacitors. The predetermined voltages are summed in an operational amplifier which, in response produces a filtered analog output signal. Individual capacitors are utilized for realizing each pair of symmetrical coefficients of the filter transfer function, resulting in considerable economy of size. A switched capacitor implementation results in high speed performance, simple design and low cost.

Abstract: A method of segmenting a text into words in which a dictionary search is made while using a character string in the text as a search key, and it is checked whether a word retrieved from the dictionary can be grammatically connected to another word adjacent thereto or not. Segmentation processing is carried out using only words registered in a word dictionary, processing for identifying an unknown word is carried out when the segmentation processing comes to a deadlock, and then the segmentation processing is continued for that portion of the text which follows the identified unknown word.

Abstract: A portable circuit and method for performing a time study and analysis of bodily ionic characteristics as esophageal pH includes a transducer 11 for measuring pH and generating a proportional analog signal and an interface 12 for converting this signal into a representative digital signal including offset and gain controls 23,24 for permitting correction for transducer 11 calibration drift during the study period. A processor 14 receives and stores all digital signals for rapid transmission to a data analysis after the study period is ended. Esophageal pH values are measured and stored for a plurality of pre-study and post-study known conditions.