Abstract: A microcomputer interval counter circuit for detecting the time interval between input signals and for determining when the detected time interval exceeds a preset time interval.The interval counter circuit includes a latch connected to a bus of the microcomputer for storing the preset time interval duration, a counter circuit connected to the latch and to the microcomputer clock for decrementing a number stored in the counter and producing a timing indication as an interrupt to the microcomputer processor, and an OR gate connected to load the counter from the latch when an input signal is received, or when the counter circuit fully decrements.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for monitoring the trip status of the trip cycle in an electronic postage meter, comprising the steps of reading the state of a bistable member having a Home and In cycle states, setting a plurality of bits if the bistable member is Home, re-reading the state of the bistable member after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, storing a fatal error bit if the bistable member is in the Home state after the re-reading and attempting to complete the trip cycle, further re-reading the state of the bistable member after a predetermined period of time has elapsed if the re-reading of the state of the bistable member discloses that the bistable member is In cycle, resetting certain of the set bits if the further reading of the bistable member discloses that it is Home, and ending the trip cycle.

Abstract: An improved companded transmission system uses a transmitter having a first compressor for compressing a signal m(t) of bandwidth B.sub.1 to form a signal C[m(t)]. The transmission system has a bandwidth B.sub.2 where B.sub.1 .ltoreq.B.sub.2. A receiver having an expander to expand the received signal r(t) is provided to produce a signal m.sub.E (t). The improvement consists of a circuit for recovering the frequency components f.sub.L lost during transmission of C[m(t)] and includes a second compressor for compressing m.sub.E (t) in the same manner as m(t) was compressed to produce a signal C[m.sub.E (t)] which contains frequency components f.sub.c lying above B.sub.2. A filter which is responsive to C[m.sub.E (t)] generates (C[m.sub.E (t)]-f.sub.c), and, a subtractor subtracts (C[m.sub.E (t)]-f.sub.c) from C[m.sub.E (t)]. An adder adds f.sub.c to r(t), and, an expander expands the summed signal f.sub.c +r(t) to produce a signal m.sub.1 (t) which is a first order corrected approximation of m(t).

Abstract: In order to determine the height of textile fiber bales disposed in successive groups in the operative range of a bale opener which is arranged to move horizontally adjacent the bale groups, each bale group containing at least one bale of fibers of a selected type and the opener being provided with a detacher disposed above the bales, movable vertically toward the bales for opening the bales, and carrying a measuring device for measuring the height of each bale group, a plurality of measurements of the height of each bale group is effected at a succession of horizontally spaced measuring locations by advancing the bale opener horizontally after each measurement, and an average of the measurements made on each bale group is formed.

Abstract: An electronic thermometer is particularly adapted for use as a fever thermometer and employs a unique temperature sensor configuration comprising a platinum temperature sensing resistor and tantalum nitride reference resistor both mounted on the same substrate. The resistors are selectively coupled to the input of a dual ramp integrator forming part of an analog to digital converter. Digital control circuitry causes the sensing resistor to be coupled to the input of the integrator during a first mode and causes the reference resistor to be coupled to the input during a second mode. Included in the digital circuitry is a first sensor memory and a second reference memory. These memories have stored therein a digital number indicative of the response of both resistors at a predetermined temperature obtained during initial calibration of the sensor and thermometer. The stored values are compared during the respective mode with the accumulated count in a clock counting circuit.

Abstract: A machine operation monitor is provided for detecting malfunctions during execution of a machine cycle of operation irrespective of the activity being performed. Load levels of machine member driving means are periodically sampled and compared against limits computed by the monitor. The limit calculation uses net force or torque measured by storing load level samples during two preparatory executions of the machine cycle of operation. During the first execution a finished workpiece is produced using good tools. During the second execution no workpiece is present. The differences between load level samples taken during these two executions represent the net force required to perform work on the workpiece. The monitor responds to synchronization signals to maintain correspondence between load level samples taken in successive executions of the machine cycle. The monitor also responds to monitor off signals to suspend monitor operation during periods of no activity in the machine cycle.

Abstract: An integrated aircraft longitudinal flight control system uses a generalized thrust and elevator command computation (38), which accepts flight path angle, longitudinal acceleration command signals, along with associated feedback signals, to form energy rate error (20) and energy rate distribution error (18) signals. The engine thrust command is developed (22) as a function of the energy rate distribution error and the elevator position command is developed (26) as a function of the energy distribution error. For any vertical flight path and speed mode the outerloop errors are normalized (30, 34) to produce flight path angle and longitudinal acceleration commands.The system provides decoupled flight path and speed control for all control modes previously provided by the longitudinal autopilot, autothrottle and flight management systems.

Abstract: In a postage meter having structure for printing postage, for displaying numerical values and for entering data, and which includes a computer electrically connected to the printing, displaying and data entering structure, and wherein the computer is programmed for processing data for controlling the operation of the respective printing and displaying and data entering structures, and wherein the data entering structure includes a keyboard having a first plurality of depressable keys, and wherein the computer includes memory for storing a first amount corresponding to all postage then available for printing; there is provided apparatus and a method for changing the first amount to a new first amount.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out the field balancing of rotors utilizing trial weight techniques. A display is provided with the portable apparatus which serves to prompt the operator with respect to proper procedures for 1 and 2-plane balancing. The apparatus further incorporates a non-volatile random access memory in which balancing parameters for a number of rotors may be permanently stored for use in subsequent trim balancing procedures. This same non-volatile memory is utilized additionally for the storage of null and gain categorized calibration data. A synchronous form of filter is provided for balancing which additionally is used for the purpose of aiding the operator in carrying out vibrational analysis in the field.

Abstract: A position indicating system and method for use in detecting relative movement between machine components such as components of measuring machines, machine tools and other forms of machinery to be automatically and precisely controlled in operation. A lead or drive screw supported by one machine component or assembly contains marker recordings provided along one or more surfaces of its helical thread which recordings are scanned to generate pulses as the screw rotates in synchronization with the relative movement between machine components. The marker recordings may be provided along the base of the screw thread, either or both its side walls or the top wall or helical crown of the thread and may be photoelectrically, magnetically or otherwise detected by a sensor supported by a threaded bushing riding in the thread of the screw.

Abstract: A displacement detector especially intended for a gear wheel grinding or inspecting machine contains a conventional pre-stage comprising a forward-backward counter receiving measuring pulses, a buffer or intermediate store for preserving the counter state at each moment, and a comparator for detecting predetermined position values during a measuring operation. To prevent overflow of the counter during more extended travel paths and at high resolution a pulse storing and detecting circuit and a synchronizer circuit are provided which enable the counter to be reset at any moment without any pulse becoming lost. Consequently, a conventional 8-bit or 16-bit microprocessor system and circuit components or elements of the same bit format can be used. The use of a 32-bit format is thus avoided, which otherwise requires substantially higher expense in terms of hardware, space and circuitry and which otherwise unavoidably must be used for more extended travel paths and high resolution.

Abstract: A chain saw including an electromagnetic pump (4) for feeding lubricant to saw chain operative in response to an engine speed sensor (5) for sensing the rpm of an internal combustion engine and a microcomputer (6) for controlling the operation of the electromagnetic pump (4). The microcomputer (6) stores a plurality of lubricant feeding patterns covering the number of actuations of the electromagnetic pump (4), the actuation frequency and the period of time of each actuation so as to control automatically the feeding of lubricant to the saw chain from the electromagnetic pump (4) in response to the engine speed sensor (5) to effect lubricant feeding in conformity with the sawing condition.

Abstract: In a multiplexed and microprocessor-based data acquisition system involving temperature measurement with temperature resistor thermometer devices (RTD), automatic signal substitution for calibration is effected without physically interrupting the measurement signal path by taking three measurements between the three wires at the input and using with the microprocessor a cancellation algorithm.

Abstract: A local station and a central computer subsystem remotely located from each other are interconnected by a transmission system, such as a telephone network, so that a medium containing visual data can be read in the vicinity where the cart is made, but automatically analyzed by a computer at the central computer subsystem. The local station includes an optical reader device for reading the medium and converting the visual data contained thereon into numerical data in the form of binary electrical signals. The binary electrical signals are compressed by a hardware compressor circuit and a software compressor program so that the transmission time for transmitting the data to the central computer subsystem is reduced. Once the data is transmitted to the central computer subsystem, an analysis of the data is made after any desired modifications of the data have been made through a graphics terminal.

Abstract: Method for automatic processing of well logging information in order to determine the clay parameters, the clay content and to calibrate the porosity and density measurement tools.Among the parameters varying as a function of the presence of clay, at least two indicators are selected. The borehole is divided into intervals and in each one is determined the most argilaceous level and the least argilaceous level and the totality of these points is used to calculate the clay parameters and the clay content.One application is the determination of oil-bearing strata.

Abstract: Disclosed is a measurement apparatus for measuring physical quantity, such as temperature, pressure etc., and providing corresponding measuremnt data suitable for transmission to a remote central location. The physical quantity being measured is first converted to a frequency signal, either directly by an appropriate transducer or by a combination of an appropriate transducer and appropriate converter. Counters are then used to convert the frequency signal to a corresponding digital quantity. An appropriately programmed digital processor is then used to perform processing operations on the digital quantity to derive the measurement data. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an optical transceiver for converting the measurement data into corresponding optical signals for transmission via an optical fiber to a central processor.

Abstract: A printing or copying apparatus of a type provided with a recording medium, operable device for forming an image on the recording medium, device for operating a first signal required for the timing operation of the operable device, keys for instructing to start or stop the execution of image formation, first control device controlling the operable device in accordance with the first signal, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the operable device for image formation, and second control device for controlling the first control device in accordance with the key instructing device for controlling the execution of image formation and for controlling at least one of the operable devices, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the first control device.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled distillation analyzer for petroleum products performs, computes, displays and records distillation data. An interactive/keyboard display and printer system reports and records test conditions and prompts user inputs to define test parameters. Before the initial boiling point, the heater is automatically controlled in two time intervals. Following the initial boiling point, the heater is controlled to keep the monitored distillation rate within a predetermined range. Upon attaining an automatically calculated volume of distillate, the final heat is incremented to a programmed level. In one mode, the end point is automatically detected by monitoring vapor temperature for a decline, followed by the cessation of meniscus movement to terminate the test. After measuring the residue, the analyzer automatically recomputes temperatures at a series of percentage volumes of evaporated sample.

Abstract: An environmental control system for use in greenhouses or other structures requiring the control of a temperature regulating element in response to sensed temperatures. The environmental control system includes a plurality of sensor elements and actuator elements comprising peripheral control elements each of which communicate bidirectionally with individual communication interface units. A central control processor bidirectionally communicates with another communication interface unit. All of the interface units bidirectionally communicate with each other over fixed AC power lines by frequency shift keying the information onto and from the lines. The control processor receives operator inputs which cause it to assign time slots to different peripheral control elements to configure the system whereby each peripheral control element can be interrogated by addressing it during its time slot.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for reducing vibrations generated in a stationary induction apparatus by detecting the vibration and by applying a vibration applying force capable of suppressing the detected vibrations to the stationary induction apparatus by at least one vibration applying device, in which the phase and amplitude of the vibration applying force of the vibration applying device are successively and repeatedly adjusted so as to decrease the sum of squares of the respective amplitudes of vibration detected by the vibration sensors. A calculation for obtaining the sum of squares of the detected amplitudes of vibration and the control of the phase and amplitude of the vibration applying force based upon the calculated sum of squares may be carried out in accordance with a program stored in a microcomputer.