Abstract: A predetermined number of preceding data items, which are obtained through measurement of change in pressure or pressure difference with respect to respective objects inspected and decided to be acceptable, are grouped according to types of the objects and stored in different storage regions. Each time new data is stored, the oldest data in the corresponding storage region is erased. An average of data stored in a designated storage region is computed and each object is decided if it is acceptable or not on the basis of the difference between the newly measured data of the object and the computed average of the data in the designated storage region corresponding to the object.

Abstract: A test apparatus for testing such electrical circuit elements as components of printed circuit boards or integrated circuit chips includes a number of substantially indentical pin modules or units, one for each pin under test. The several modules are separately programmed by a CPU to provide a suitable state at the pin under test, i.e., excitation signal, read signal or impedance. Power to the unit under test is provided by the pin module.

Abstract: In apparatus for measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves by counting the number of clock pulses occurring within the period of time from the transmission of an ultrasonic pulse to the receiving of the pulse, a receiving circuit receives a transmitted pulse and a received pulse and provides an output which continues from transmission until reception of the pulse. A time-difference detection circuit detects pulses occurring during a time interval t.sub.1 starting at the leading edge of the transmission pulse and ending at the leading edge of the first clock pulse thereafter and a time interval t.sub.2 starting at the leading edge of the received pulse and ending at the leading edge of the first clock pulse thereafter. The duration of the time interval t between transmission and reception is determined in accordance with the equationt=[A+1/m(B-C)].times.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for a semiconductor position sensing device has an impedance element connected to one output terminal thereof. When a distance to an object is to be detected, an impedance of the impedance element is varied until the outputs of the sensing device substantially balance. The distance to the object is determined by the impedance of the impedance element when the outputs balance.

Abstract: A process for determining a speed and a device for implementing same are provided, wherein the counting device comprises a microprocessor, a programmable counting circuit comprising three counters and connected to the address/data bus of the microprocessor, a storage flip-flop circuit storing the selection addresses of the counters, each counter being associated with a register for preselection of a value for reinitialization of the counters and a common register of the counted values. A logic circuit receiving a masking signal produced by the third counter transfers, to the INTO input of the microprocessor, interruption signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for deriving a measuring signal proportional to the temperature rise of a temperature-time characteristic curve in a heating system having a cooker with cooking material on a heating plate, in which the temperature of the cooker is measured by means of a temperature sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensor apparatus (21) for remotely monitoring a utility meter or the like. The optical sensor apparatus (21) includes optically sensitive detector, in this case, a dynamic RAM device (40) which consists of an array (42, 44) of light sensitive elements. Light from a light source (56) is reflected off the faceplate (52) of the meter. Microprocessor control system (100) operatively interconnected to the optically sensitive dynamic RAM device (40) controls the exposure of the RAM device (40) to the light. The microprocessor control system (100) further determines the angular position of the individual pointer members (50) of the meter by correlating a binary image stored in memory to a predetermined geometic shape. The microprocessor control system (100) further includes logic for converting the angular positions of the pointer members (50) of the meter stages to a decimal value representative of the meter reading.

Abstract: A dot interpolation control system according to the invention includes a dot pattern memory storing character pattern data having a predetermined dot matrix format. Dot data of four adjacent dots is obtained from the dot pattern memory. X and Y off-set values of a position in an area surrounded by the four dots are stored using one of the dot data of four adjacent dots as a reference point. Dot interpolated value data in the area surrounded by the four dots is stored in an interpolating table ROM in accordance with all combination of ON- and OFF-states of the dot data of four adjacent dots. The dot data of four adjacent dots and the X and Y off-set values are supplied to the interpolating table ROM. A dot interpolated value at a coordinate point indicated by the off-set values is generated in correspondence with ON- and OFF-states of the four adjacent dots.

Abstract: A checkout system for processing purchased merchandise items includes a checkout counter in which is located a scanning assembly for scanning a coded label on the purchased item to produce data signals identifying the item purchased, a display member on the counter for displaying the price of the merchandise item purchased, an indicator light and a tone generator located in the display member, a back office processor for obtaining the price of the merchandise item scanned from a price look-up table using the data signals as an address and a data terminal device for printing the price of the items scanned on a record member. Processing means located in the scanning assembly and the display member cycles the operation of the tone generates when the price of the item scanned is not found in the table and cycles the operation of the indicator light whenever a malfunction occurs in the operation of the terminal. In both cases, the operation of the scanning means is disabled.

Abstract: The effective range of an analog linear-log converter is extended above the number of output decades over which this converter is reasonably linear to cover several additional decades of log conversion. This is made possible by adding a variable gain amplifier having several decades of switchable gain to the input of the converter. Switching between decades to utilize the added decades of output is controlled by a microcomputer which monitors the output level. This switching restores the signal level of each of the added decades to the same level as that of an earlier decade thus maintaining the same slope accuracy and noise levels of the earlier decades throughout the whole conversion range. The microcomputer also provides slope corrections from a lookup table for each of the different output decades as well as also applying to the output corrections for offsets due to the circuit components. Ambient temperature compensation is also provided following the linear-log converter for increased precision.

Abstract: An improved logic simulation system including a logic simulator which provides the logic states of elements within an electronic circuit being analyzed, means for associating the logic states with a schematic image of the electronic circuitry for display on a visual display device, wherein the improvement includes means for designating the color of the element being displayed which color represents the logic state of the element for a selected point in time.

Abstract: A temporal variation in a fluid pressure of a fixed value applied to an article under inspection, or in the differential pressure between it and a fluid pressure applied to a comparison tank, is measured, and the measured value is compared with a reference value, thereby judging whether the airtightness of the article under inspection is good. Of the measured pressure or differential pressure data, data on the inspected articles judged non-defective are stored, by a predetermined number, in accordance with individual temperature differences between them and the comparison tank, or temperature differences between them a reference temperature, and a mean value of the stored data is calculated for each temperature difference. This mean value is used as a correction value for correcting, for each temperature difference, the measured pressure or differential pressure data on articles subsequently inspected.

Abstract: A scale under microprocessor control weighs each batch of currency. The weight measurement is compared against predetermined stored weight values to determine if the currency being weighed is strap currency or unstrapped currency and to determine the range of the currency count. Dependent upon the result of these comparisons, the proper routine is selected during which the last currency measurement is compared against the measurement criteria of the selected routine to either confirm the accuracy of the count or indicate an error. An average strap value is created from a table of stored values for at least one of the strap quantities and is updated each time a strap of that quantity is weighed. The averaging technique employed creates an average from the weights of the last ten straps of that quantity measured, and which are stored in the table. The averaging is performed after the table is updated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for monitoring a plurality of analog ac circuits by sampling the voltage and current waveform in each circuit at predetermined intervals, converting the analog current and voltage samples to digital format, storing the digitized current and voltage samples and using the stored digitized current and voltage samples to calculate a variety of electrical parameters; some of which are derived from the stored samples.The non-derived quantities are repeatedly calculated and stored over many separate cycles then averaged. The derived quantities are then calculated at the end of an averaging period. This produces a more accurate reading, especially when averaging over a period in which the power varies over a wide dynamic range.Frequency is measured by timing three cycles of the voltage waveform using the upward zero crossover point as a starting point for a digital timer.

Abstract: Pressure variation detecting type leakage inspection equipment which applies a fixed fluid pressure to an article to be inspected and judges whether the article is non-defective or defective, depending upon whether a change in the fluid pressure or in the differential pressure between the article under inspection and a comparison tank is within a prescribed value, data on pressure values or differential pressure values by respective measurement which are within a proper value range are stored in succession, the stored data are averaged to obtain a correction value, and data by each measurement is corrected by the correction value, thereby automatically correcting an error which varies owing to various factors. Thus a proper leakage inspection can be achieved.

Abstract: The position of a peak in a digital signal is determined by a circuit consisting of a finite impulse response filter constructed in accordance with either the expression (1+z.sup.-1)(1+z.sup.-2) (1-z.sup.-5) or the simplified expression (1+z.sup.-1) (1-z.sup.-3), where z is the z transform function and the index indicates the number of clock intervals in each delay. The practical realization of the filter for applying these expressions to the input signal involves the use of three (for the first expression) or two (for the second expression) delay circuits in series. The output of the filter is a differentiated signal, the zero crossing point of which represents the desired peak position. This crossing point is detected in an interpolation circuit which linearly interpolates the location of such point to a fraction of a clock interval or pixel.

Abstract: A very large scale integrated circuit comprises a number of function blocks which are synchronized by relevant clock signals. Each function block forms an isochronous region so that the delay times of the signals within the relevant function block can be negligibly small with respect to the gate delay times. Each function block is paired with at least one other function block in that the pair is connected by an information connection and by at least two synchronization handshake lines for transporting synchronization signals dispatched by each function block of the pair to the other function block of the pair so that an asynchronous information transport is obtained. One or more of the function blocks comprises an information connection to the environment. As a result of this set-up, the circuit can also be tested and designed per function block.

Abstract: For use in preparing cement to cement a well, a cement metering system is set forth. The preferred and illustrated embodiment incorporates flow meters measuring water delivered to a cement jet mixer for cement and water into a slurry. A downstream density meter is included. A second water line dilutes the slurry to adjust the density downwardly to the desired slurry density controlled by the control system. The control system includes a data formatting circuit connected to the various transducers which converts the data so that the density required for the slurry is obtained. As desired, the data can be totalled by integrating over a period of time and shown on the data display. Volume flow rate of the controlled density slurry and bulk volume of dry cement may be determined.

Abstract: The printed sheets are scanned, by image elements, immediately behind the last printing mechanism, with one or several measuring heads. Suitable dimensions of an image element range from approximately 1.times.1 mm.sup.2 to 10.times.10 mm.sup.2. In each image element the reflectance is measured in four spectral ranges (infrared for black, red for cyan, green for magenta and blue for yellow). The measured reflectance values are converted by means of Neugebauer equations into surface coverages in a demasking step and inputted to a computer for evaluation. With the same measuring device, both the reference values associated with OK sheets, and the actual values associated with continuous printing, are measured. The computer compares the measured data, weights them with respect to such factors as surface coverage, foreign color component and the environment of a respective image element, and produces a regulating signal to control the ink feed elements.

Abstract: A timing system for a spectrophotometer having a line driven chopper including a rotating disc with alternate open and opaque segments, index apertures in the disc spaced at invariant angular relationship to one of the open segments for providing indexing pulses having fixed time relationship to the light segments, and a programmable microcomputer assembly for generating a string of timing pulses for timing spectrophotometer operations and adjusting the rate of the timing pulses to provide a fixed number between indexing pulses in fixed phase relationship thereto.