Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the spatial position of a reference point relative to a predetermined origin, the reference point being located on an articulated marine loading arm having a plurality of pivotally interconnected fluid conduits forming pivot angles at the interconnections of the conduits, includes segments subtended by the pivot angles and means are provided for sensing lengths of the segments as the loading arm articulates. The sensing means generate electrical signals proportional to the segment lengths and a computer receives the electrical signals and calculates the position of the reference point therefrom based on the known geometry of the loading arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for deriving a correction factor used in calculating corrected liquid (e.g., fuel) quantity of a tank having a probe capacitance which varies in accordance with the quantity of liquid contained within the tank. The correction factor reduces sensing diode voltage drop errors and stray capacitance errors (affecting the capacitance of the probe) through use of a switchable high/low amplitude Lo-Z oscillator. All oscillator outputs are "low" amplitude relative to the output amplitudes of conventional devices. Signal processing is effected by inputting raw data (both reference and probe-sensed signals) to an analog-to-digital sampling circuit, which raw data are used for deriving the correction factor. The correction factor is then applied to the raw data to determine a corrected liquid quantity indication. Recalibration of the correction factor periodically permits automatic adaption to changing error magnitudes (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new and improved apparatus for measuring overlay error between a wafer pattern and a mask pattern projected onto the wafer pattern by a lithographic exposure instrument, which includes a grating mask; a grating wafer having reflective lines alternating with non-reflective spaces patterned like the mask pattern; the lithographic instrument having projection optics mounted to project an image of the mask on the wafer, and a mechanism for moving the grating mask and grating wafer relative to the projection optics; the grating on the wafer being offset from the grating on the mask forming Moire fringes corresponding to the overlay error between the wafer pattern and a mask pattern projected onto the wafer; a photodiode array wherein each photodiode corresponds to a pixel on the grating wafer; viewing optics mounted to project the Moire fringes onto the photodiode.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an operating elevator system for malfunctions related to sequentially perform functions, including the detection of both sequence and timing errors. The method monitors predetermined signals for the detection of user defined unique events starting and stopping conditions, and it follows each state change of all of the pertinent signals which occurs between these two detected conditions. The state changes and their occurrence times relative to the start of the detected event, are compared with a learned binary image of the correct state changes and occurrence times, which correct image was prepared and stored during a learn mode when the elevator was known to correctly perform the sequence to be monitored.

Abstract: A method of determining the color of light employed to illuminate the scene in a color image from the image itself, relies upon detecting the color of the specularly reflected light in the image. In a preferred mode of practicing the invention, the color of specularly reflected light is detected by detecting a plurality of sets of points having constant hue and varying saturation on a plurality of differently colored surfaces in the scene, and determining the locus of the intersection of straight lines fit through the color values of the sets of points. The locus of the intersection of the straight lines indicates the color of the scene illuminant. In an application of the method in a color printer, the determined illuminant color is employed as the aim point in the photographic printing process.

Abstract: Manual zero adjustment of a tracer head and adjustment of differential amplifiers for the tracer head are eliminated by a step of storing the outputs of differential amplifier circuits as zero-point offset amounts while maintaining the tracer head in a non-contact state, a step of successively maintaining the tracer head in a first and a second state, and while doing so, storing first and second coordinates of the tracer head in the first and second contact states, together with first and second amounts of displacement compensated for by the zero-point offset amounts, a step of calculating and storing gains of the differential amplifier circuits on the basis of the first and second coordinates and the first and second amounts of displacement compensated for by the zero-point offset amounts, and a step of effecting tracing control through the use of the stored zero-point offset amounts and gains. These steps are carried out under control of a processor.

Abstract: Edge data is stored in a bit map, and clocked out pixel by pixel to form a pixel data stream for display. The edge data defines the regions or faces in the display image which have the same color. The face edges form transitions in the data stream (0-to-1 or 1-to-0), and are detected by an edge detector for generating sequential color addresses. The color data for each face is stored in a color memory in the order of appearance, and is accessed at each edge transition when a color change is required. The color address associated with each edge transition accesses the color for that face from the color memory. Each pixel in the display has a corresponding bit in the pixel map; and each color change in the display has a location in the color memory. The pixel data is sequentially accessed from the pixel memory by the pixel clock. The color data is sequentially accessed by the pixel transitions and synchronized into the display at each face edge.

Abstract: A collating and binding system for producing customized versions of books includes means for detecting a defective book, means responsive to the detecting means for rejecting the defective book and means for reordering the rejected book at a point in an original production sequence determined in accordance with a comparison of the postal information of the rejected book with the postal information of a book currently being produced. An indication of the postage required to mail the produced books is derived from an amount calculated before the books are produced and from indications of postage increases for those books which were reordered at subsequent portions in the original production sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a running speed detector comprising:a pulse encoder which generates pulses of a frequency proportional to the running speed of a rotary member;pulse period counting device for counting the periods of pulses having said frequency relying upon clock signals;memory for storing ounted values of periods counted by said pulse period counting means; andand a calculating device which receives pulses having said frequency, which calculates the sum of n latest counted values that have been counted already after the arrival of each of said pulses or after the arrival of a predetermined number of pulses, and which calculates the running speed that varies in proportion to a ratio of the number n of counted values of periods to said sum of counted values of periods.

Abstract: A video system includes a processor, CRT monitor, video memory and a video memory and CRT controller that provides rapid transfer of data to be displayed in both the text and graphics mode.

Abstract: A video memory controller controls a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) used as a video memory and as a system memory. The video memory and the video memory controller are normally a part of a video system which includes a data processor, the video memory, the video memory controller, a CRT controller and a CRT display device. The video memory controller includes a row address latch for storing a row address from the data processor, a column address latch for storing a column address from the data processor, a refresh address register for storing a memory refresh address and a display update generator for sequentially generating the addresses necessary for update of the CRT display. A multiplexer couples the proper address to the video memory under control of a memory cycle generator which generates the timing of the memory refresh and display update. An arbiter device enables only one of the possible memory cycles at a time.

Abstract: A color graphic display device for converting color index data read out from a plurality of frame memories to color information on a screen so as to perform graphic display has a first register for holding a group number determined in accordance with a combination of areas between copy source and destination memories of the plurality of frame memories for an interarea copy, and a ROM table for storing conversion color index data at a plurality of addresses of the group number and for receiving as address data linked data of an output from the first register and the color index data from the plurality of frame memories. The group number is set in the first register and the corresponding color index data is read out from the frame memories, thereby obtaining updated or converted color index data from the ROM table. The color graphic display device also has a second register for holding write enable/disable data for specifying the write enable/disable mode of the plurality of frame memories.

Abstract: A computerized chemical application system for a water treatment system. The water treatment system includes a main header conduit through which water flows. Connected in shunt with the main header is a chemical introduction header of smaller diameter and a lower flow rate than the main header. A computer control is provided to sense the conductivity of a reference water flowing through the chemical introduction header. Injection means are provided to introduce a water treatment liquid into the chemical introduction header and to mix it thoroughly with the water flowing therein. The conductivity of the mixture is sensed, and based upon the differential conductivity and values relating conductivity to concentration for the water treatment liquid (which values are stored within the computer control) the amount of the water treatment liquid introduced is precisely controlled.

Abstract: A vibrating cylinder pressure transducer system with an incorporated error correction circuitry is disclosed. The compensation circuitry includes a microcomputer, a frequency counting circuit and a arithmetic processor. The system further provides for digital temperature measurement and compensation. The characterizing equation of the vibrating transducer is solved by the microcomputer and the arithmetic processor in order to provide a thermal compensated, highly accurate digital output indication of the measurement of pressure in a single self-contained unit which is small in size and which provides a direct engineering unit output thereby eliminating the need for a further and separate dedicated computer in order to obtain pressure measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for measuring cell potentials in an aluminum potline having a plurality of cells connected in series. The system enables better control of the cells than the current method which calculates cell resistance on the basis of measured cell potentials and potline current but an assumed value of back e.m.f. The present invention uses corrected voltage measurements and provides a decentralized, current independent cell potential measuring system which converts simultaneously all cell potentials during a normal integration period (e.g. 1 second) into a value corresponding to the potline current when it is at its normal (set-point) value. Simultaneously, various possible back e.m.f. values are measured with the same current relationship and computations made of the error caused by the non-ohmic portion of the cell potential when the current deviates from its normal (set-point) value. Sudden changes in current enable correct values of back e.m.f. to be determined.

Abstract: A sensor for counting articles, such as seeds, moving through a conduit includes an array of infrared LEDs generating a uniform diffuse beam of radiation which entirely illuminates a cross sectional volume of the conduit. The beam is detected by a planar photo diode which extends across the opposite side of the conduit. A pair of mirrors extend along opposite sides of the conduit between the array and the photo diodes. Slits narrow the beam and limit the amount of radiation which can impinge upon the photo diode. The signal from the photo diode is integrated by a signal processing unit so that the sensor can count a plurality of seeds in a group of seeds which simultaneously pass through the beam. The signal processing unit automatically compensates for changes in the steady state photo-diode output and for changes in seed size.

Abstract: A method and a circuit for producing an independent scrollable display region (sometimes referred to as a "window") on the face of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) in a bit-mapped data display system is disclosed. Circuitry is provided to detect the presence of the window along a vertical axis and to detect the presence of the window along a horizontal axis. When both a vertical and a horizontal presence are detected simultaneously, a window is deemed to be present. When the window is deemed to be present a memory address selection circuit selects memory addresses from one memory address circuit and when the window is deemed to be not present, the memory address selection circuit selects memory addresses from another memory address circuit.