Abstract: The present invention features a method and apparatus for detecting and enabling the clearance of high impedance faults (HIFs) in an electrical transmission or distribution system. Current in at least one phase in a distribution system is monitored in real time by sensors. Analog current signature information is then digitized for processing by a digital computer. Zero crossings are identified and current maxima and minima located. The first derivatives of the maxima and minima are computed and a modified Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is then performed to convert time domain to frequency domain information. The transformed data is formatted and normalized and then applied to a trained neural network, which provides an output trigger signal when an HIF condition is probable. The trigger signal is made available to either a network administrator for manual intervention, or directly to switchgear to deactivate an affected portion of the network.

Abstract: An optical RF spectrum analyzer which is suitable for determining the reaime spectral frequency content of radar return signals. The optical RF spectrum analyzer includes a demodulator for demodulating an input RF signal to produce a time-varying voltage signal at its output, and a sample and hold circuit for sampling the time-varying voltage signal to obtain and hold a prescribed number of samples of the time-varying voltage signal during each of successive prescribed frame intervals. At the conclusion of each frame interval, the samples obtained and held during that frame interval are applied to respective inputs of a laser array to drive respective ones of the lasers in the array, whereby the laser array produces a spatial pattern of infrared radiation having a spatial intensity distribution which is indicative of the amplitude distribution of the envelope of the input RF signal over a given frame interval.

Abstract: A particle packing apparatus which includes a particle distributor capable of forming a concave-conical packed surface upon scattering of particles in a steady state and having a parameter with which to control the size of the cone and a packing monitor capable of continuously detecting the entire packed surface condition is provided. A concave-conical packed surface of the particles scattered in a steady state is formed by the distributor while the packing monitor is continuously detecting the formation of the packed surface and intermittently or continuously the parameter of the particle distributor is controlled to reduce the cone size gradually and form and deposit, on the inner side of the concave-conical packed surface, successively smaller packed surfaces at predetermined intervals or uninterruptedly, whereby a flat, smooth packed surface is formed. When scanning the deposit surface with laser light, detecting the reflected light, and measuring the deposit height by trigonometry, it is image-processed.

Abstract: A system (10) for evaluating a software product includes an interface (12). The interface (12) receives product data relating to the software product, and a first memory (14) stores the product data. A second memory (23, 32) stores a plurality of weighting values. A processor (26, 36) is coupled to the first memory (14) and the second memory (23, 32). The processor (26, 36) applies the plurality of weighting values to the product data to generate at least one criterion score for the software product. Each criterion score represents an evaluation of the software product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing color conversion on image data provided as a plurality of vectors representing a datum of the image. The present invention provides a forward transform that performs reversible color conversion on the plurality of vectors, such that the transform is reversible in integer arithmetic with predictable precision.

Abstract: An extended basic input output system (E-BIOS) has a first portion of code for providing power-on self-test (POST) and boot functions for a first computer, including code for sensing if the first computer does not boot. In the event of failure to boot, a second portion of code in the E-BIOS directs establishing communication link with a remote diagnostics and repair computer. When communication is established, a master code kernel at the diagnostics and repair computer may be executed to download a slave kernel to random access memory of the first computer, blowing an automatic software kernel or an operator at the diagnostics and repair computer to access and modify code and data in memory devices of the first computer, and to reboot the first computer after repair. Communication links may be by telephone modem, either analog or integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), or by network links.

Abstract: A method and system for testing device conflict and bus resolution are disclosed. The device conflict and bus resolution is for a data processing system that uses customized device data definitions for configuration. To perform the testing for device conflict and bus resolution, the system first repopulates a device data information database found within the data processing system with customized configuration data for a predetermined system configuration to be tested. Next, the system performs a bus resolve resolution function that highlights any errors, device conflicts, or bus conflicts. Next, the system evaluates the results from the bus resolution resolve resolution function for evaluation by the tester. Before performing the repopulating function, the system removes any previously programmed customized definitions for a particular system configuration in order that a fair evaluation of the new configuration may be performed.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical system for monitoring the position and orientation of an object in a frame of reference. The system includes at least four light sensors (or light sources) fixed on the object in a non-coplanar arrangement, each producing a signal in response to a change in the intensity of light falling on it.

Abstract: A system including a resonant cavity for measuring in-situ and in real time the Carbon content of the fly ash produced from the combustion process occurring within a pulverized coal-fired steam generator. The resonant cavity basically includes an intelligence section, a transmitting section, a cavity section and a receiving section. When the system including the resonant cavity is so employed the measurements gained therefrom may be utilized either by an operator or as input to a boiler control system or both in order that corrective action may be implemented when such is required.

Abstract: A method of eliminating a disturbing component from a periodic signal. The method includes the steps performing at least two measurements on the signal at two distinct instants, calculating the parameters of the disturbing component on the basis of the measurements, and subtracting the disturbing component from the signal. The invention is applicable to making an electronic capacitor voltage transformer comprising a capacitor divider constituted by a high tension capacitor and a low tension capacitor. The transformer includes a microprocessor programmed to perform the above method on the signal from the low tension capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the analysis of the frequency spectrum of a signal by a high-resolution method that is more precise than the Fourier transform when all that is available is a small number of samples of the signal. It pertains more particularly to a method for the autoregressive modelling frequency spectral analysis of a signal, known as Burg's maximum entropy method, and consists of a regularization of this method by means of a criterion similar to that already known to have been used in order to regularize the method of autoregressive spectral analysis known as the least error squares method, while at the same time keeping the advantages of Burg's maximum entropy method which are that it can be used in real time with a lattice type computation structure, that it can be extended to multisegment configurations and that it is robust with respect to computation noise, errors of quantization and rounding-off operations.

Abstract: A method for initializing a network having a plurality of network subscribers being capable of acting as masters, includes assigning the master function to the network subscriber being capable of acting as a master that is turned on first. In the event of a collision when the master function is assigned substantially simultaneously to a plurality of substantially simultaneously turned-on network subscribers, a random value that differs in magnitude is generated in all of these network subscribers. Finally, the network subscriber that has generated the highest or the lowest value is assigned the master function.

Abstract: To anticipate potential failure of a temperature modification device (e.g., heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment used in a commercial building), an efficiency value representing the ability of the temperature modification device to change temperature in a predetermined zone is repeatedly computed. When one of these values is computed, it is used in determining whether the ability of the temperature modification device to change temperature in the predetermined zone has deteriorated over time. This is done by comparing a current efficiency value with a previous efficiency value. In response to a determined deterioration exceeding a predetermined tolerance, a control signal for initiating inspection of the temperature modification device is communicated, thereby enabling the device to be serviced in response to a detected operating condition of the device and before actual failure of the device.

Abstract: A method of indicating fat content of a food product, including determining fat grams for the product, and calories per serving for the product; calculating, based on the determined fat grams for the product and the determined calories per serving for the product, fat percentage by calories for the product; and generating a label displaying non-alphanumeric graphical indicia indicating fat percentage by calories for the product.

Abstract: A motor current signal is monitored during a learning stage and divided into a plurality of statistically homogeneous segments representative of good operating modes. A representative parameter and a respective boundary of each segment is estimated. The current signal is monitored during a test stage to obtain test data, and the test data is compared with the representative parameter and the respective boundary of each respective segment to detect the presence of a fault in a motor. Frequencies at which bearing faults are likely to occur in a motor can be estimated, and a weighting function can highlight such frequencies during estimation of the parameter.

Abstract: An automated system and method for testing a sensor by evaluating the output thereof with respect to a known target. The advantageous method includes the step of acquiring an output signal from the sensor in response to a known target, said output including signature signal S, random noise N.sub.R and fixed pattern noise N.sub.FP. Next, the sensor output signal is processed to provide a first signal which includes essentially signature signal S and fixed pattern noise N.sub.FP, a second signal which includes essentially random noise N.sub.R and a third signal which includes essentially fixed pattern noise N.sub.FP. The third signal is adaptively filtered to provide a filtered signal fixed pattern noise signal N'.sub.FP. The filtered signal N'.sub.FP is subtracted from the first signal to extract a signature S. In a particular embodiment, the signature is processed to acquire a modulation transfer function and a signal peak baseline therefrom.

Abstract: A three wire power supply circuit is provided comprising a circuit for monitoring the integrity of the ground connection of the power supply circuit. A circuit element is provided in the line-to-ground current path which conducts when current flows in the line-to-ground current path and is nonconductive when the ground connection is poor or absent. A microcontroller monitors the output of the circuit element and operates a buzzer or a light emitting diode to indicate when the ground connection is poor or absent.

Abstract: A process control system (PCS) includes a control network and a plurality of nodes coupled thereto, the PCS controlling a process. A monitoring system, operatively connected to the PCS, obtains predetermined data of the PCS to monitor the performance of the PCS. The monitoring system comprises a first computer system operatively connected to the control network of the PCS. The first computer system continually accesses the predetermined data of the PCS on a predetermined periodic basis in accordance with a predetermined protocol of the control network. The first computer system is located in physical proximity with the PCS. A second computer system is located remotely from the PCS. The second computer system receives the predetermined data of the PCS transferred from the first computer system, the transfer being initiated by the first computer system when an alarm condition of the PCS is indicated by the predetermined data.

Abstract: A host computer writes a page code corresponding to a desired page in page designation areas R1 to R32 in a brief datalink area P in a communication packet so as to receive necessary detailed information from each of producing machines #1 to #32, and sends the communication packet to the producing machines. Each producing machine always supervises the page designation areas R1 to R32 in the communication packet received from the host computer. Further, each producing machine writes the detailed information of a page corresponding to the page code written in the data designation areas R1 to R32 in a detailed datalink area Q as well as writes a page code of the page of the detailed information, written in the detailed datalink area Q, in the page designation areas R1 to R32. Thereby, it is possible to interchanges necessary information between the host computer and each of the plurality of producing machines at high speed.

Abstract: Current monitoring cells are located at selected locations on power supply lines within a chip. Each cell compares the current flow at predetermined times with a reference. If the current exceeds the reference, a signal is provided indicating a fault in the chip. A flip flop in the cell is set to maintain an indication of the fault condition. In two embodiments, the cells are connected with a scan chain which is used to sequentially access the test results for each cell. A third embodiment does not include the scan chain. A current divider may be included in each cell to isolate the voltage drop of the fault sensor from the functional circuit to minimize the impact of measuring the current for fault detection purposes.