Abstract: A message is formed by capturing at least one image of an individual, and producing a first signal representative thereof. A signal is transmitted based upon both the first signal and a second signal which indicates a selected image from a plurality of predetermined images. The message is reconstructed from a received radio frequency signal which contains a third signal representative of the at least one image of the individual and a fourth signal indicative of the selected image. The selected image is retrieved from a plurality of prestored images based upon the fourth signal. At least one combined image is displayed based upon the at least one image of the individual, provided by the third signal, and the selected image.

Abstract: A method for predicting the properties of crude oils or their boiling fractions which comprises selecting a chemical or perceptual or physical or performance property or groups of properties of the crude oil or its boiling fractions and creating a training set from reference samples which contain characteristic molecular species present in the crude oil or its boiling fractions. The reference samples are subjected to GC/MS analysis wherein the often collinear data generated is treated by multivariate correlation methods. The training set produces coefficients which are multiplied by the matrix generated from a GC/MS analysis of an unknown sample to produce a predicted value of the chemical, performance, perceptual or physical property or groups of properties selected.

Abstract: A method for controlling the manufacture of lubricating oils involving the steps of distillation, extracting, dewaxing and optionally hydrofining; or for controlling operating units associated with refinery or chemical processes with feed stocks and products boiling above 350.degree. C. The method comprises selecting one or more chemical or perceptual or physical or performance properties of the lubricating oil or the feedstock, distillate or raffinate used in the manufacturing process; or of the refinery or chemical process feed stocks or products; creating a training set from reference samples which contain characteristic molecular species present in the lubricating oil, feedstock, distillate or raffinate used in the manufacturing process or from the refining or chemical operations. The reference samples are subjected to GC/MS analysis wherein the often collinear data generated is treated by multivariate correlation methods.

Abstract: A water softening system is provided in which a determination is made whether the slow rinse cycle of a regeneration has been completed or is abnormal. A reference cell and a spaced sensing cell are provided in a water tank. The impedance difference of the solution between the reference cell and the sensor cell is sensed. If the impedance difference is a first state, then after a predetermined period of time a determination is made if the impedance difference is a second state. If the impedance difference is a second state, then after a predetermined period of time a determination is made if the impedance difference is a third state. If the impedance difference is a third state, this indicates that the sodium ion concentration is uniformly reduced in the zone between the reference cell and the sensing cell and that the slow rinse cycle has been completed.

Abstract: A method of mapping a warehouse rack structure having a plurality of racks comprises the steps of creating a logical matrix and updating the logical matrix. The updating step further includes the steps of causing a moveable device to travel to a first one of the plurality of racks, and producing a first machine-readable distance measurement output. The machine-readable distance measurement output is produced using a first sensor and represents a distance between the first sensor and a first position on the warehouse rack structure. A system for mapping a warehouse rack structure comprises a storage and retrieval machine; a rack structure; a logical matrix; and a computer. The storage and retrieval machine has first and second ultrasonic sensors mounted thereon. The rack structure includes a plurality of racks. The logical matrix stores horizontal position information and vertical position information for each of the plurality of racks.

Abstract: The invention is a performance testing system, i.e., performance of a material under a load concentrated in a single area. The system is computerized and automatically applies a load to a panel to be tested, reads and records deflection of the panel without operator involvement, and provides a printed test report.

Abstract: A distance measurement device comprises distance measurement device for measuring a distance to an object, a processor for judging a result of the distance measurement of the distance measurement device, a first digital switch connected to the processor for setting a first division point where a measurement range of the distance measurement means is divided into a first long distance side and a first short distance side, a second digital switch for setting a second division point where a range between the first division point and the first short distance side is further divided into a second long distance side and a second short distance side. Based on the set states of the first and second digital switches, the processor determines which area the measurement result of the distance measurement device belongs to, from the plurality of distance areas into which the measurement result of the distance measurement device is divided with the first division point and the second division point.

Abstract: Imaging instruments for inspecting products, such as semiconductor chips, e calibrated by providing a reference test structure having features which can be located by electrical measurements not subject to tool-induced shift and wafer-induced shift experienced by the imaging instrument, and by the imaging instrument. The reference test structure is first qualified using electrical measurements, and is then used to calibrate the imaging instrument. The electrical measurements are made by forcing a current between a plurality of spaced reference features and a pair of underlying conductors. Conductive connectors formed in vias in an insulating layer overlying the pair of conductors and individually connected to a respective conductive element formed on the insulating layer are each spaced at progressively greater distances relative to the centerline of the space between the pair of conductors, such that a null-overlay element may be identified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to computational methods for designing chemical structures sharing common useful, functional properties based on specific combinations of steric configuration and binding affinity. More particularly the present invention provides a method for producing computer-simulated receptors which functionally mimic biological receptors. The simulated receptors are designed to exhibit optimized selective affinity for known target molecules. Chemical structures are then generated and evolved to exhibit selective affinity for the simulated receptors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the force-displacement diagram of pairs of punches in a rotary pelleting machine involving measuring and storing the course of compression of punch pairs for each individual angle step, storing said data and preparing a correction table in a computer which is compared to the theoretical values of displacement.

Abstract: A network element in a telecommunication network providing a number of different types of services, supports several telecommunication network applications (1304, 1306). It furthermore contains system resources and management information software. This software includes application specific management information and management information for system resources common to the applications, and is available to an operations system for managing the system resources when they are to be used. All of said management information is organized, from the point of view of naming, in several application specific management information bases each in the form of a respective hierarchical tree structure (1310, 1312).

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and system for monitoring the performance of a computer in a computer network using modular extension agents. In accordance with the method of the invention the first computer repeatedly obtains performance data including at least one performance value comprising a measure of the performance of the computer. The performance data is automatically sent over the computer network through a second computer coupled to the computer network. The second computer receives the performance data and passes the performance data to a first extension agent, wherein the first extension agent is operable to process the performance data.

Abstract: A non-linear scale instrument responsive to a sensor which generates an output signal proportional to the magnitude of a changeable condition. A visible scale includes spaced gradations over the total extent of the scale, with spacings between pairs of scale gradations varying across the scale. A control circuit, in response to the output signal of the sensor, determines the angular position of and drives a rotatable pointer across the scale to the angular position corresponding to the magnitude of the condition measured by the sensor. The control circuit also automatically converts between different measurement units at the user's selection to re-position the pointer corresponding to the measured condition in the selected units.

Abstract: A control system for automatically achieving and maintaining a desired sodium/phosphate ratio and phosphate concentration of the boiler water in an industrial boiler for minimizing corrosion. The system uses an adaptive controller that models the boiler which enables the system to predict boiler pH and phosphate concentrations at any future time given the feed rates, feed concentrations of high and low sodium/phosphate stocks, blowdown rate, mass of the boiler water, initial boiler phosphate concentration and initial pH. Once these future concentrations are determined, the controller then determines which feed rates will return the current boiler water state to, and then maintain the boiler water at, the desired sodium/phosphate congruency ratio in the least amount of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the noise level in an optical amplifier in the presence of a signal at a signal wavelength. The signal is detuned to a second wavelength different from the signal wavelength. A difference function corresponding to the difference in noise levels before and after detuning of the signal as a function of wavelength is determined. The noise level at the signal wavelength is measured. The value of the difference function at the signal wavelength is added to the noise level measured in the previous step.

Abstract: A system and method for data entry and retroactive reconstruction of the relative position of features and objects, in particular with respect to scenes such as transitory occurrences, utilizing a signal transmitting and receiving distance determining device. In a particular embodiment, the system and method disclosed has especial applicability to the on-scene recordation and subsequent ex post facto reconstruction of traffic accident scenes by law enforcement officers and may be readily and efficiently implemented in conjunction with a commercially available laser-based speed and distance determining device otherwise usable for vehicle speed traffic monitoring functions utilizing either triangulation or baseline/offset mensuration techniques.

Abstract: A hand-held and operated, instantaneous readout, portable electronic instrument is disclosed, which may be used by an observer from the grandstands to determine the speed of racers such as racing cars, horses, athletes, etc. over a lap of a race-track and to comparatively display the speeds of one racer over different laps and the speeds of different racers.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting signals in non-Gaussian background clutter, comprising the steps of: 1) filtering input data to partition Gaussian input data from non-Gaussian input data; 2) estimating the intensity level of the Gaussian input data; 3) determining the probability distributions of the non-Gaussian input data; 4) determining the background noise level of the input data; 5) estimating noise parameters of the input data; 6) estimating the residual intensity of the input data using the noise parameters; 7) determining a detection statistic M from the input data, estimated noise parameters, and the residual intensity of the input data; 8) determining a standard deviation N.sub.i of the detection statistic, M.sub.i ; 9) determining a normalized detection statistic Si, where S.sub.i =M.sub.i /N.sub.i,; 10) determining a maximum value, S.sub.imax of S.sub.i ; 11) determining a mean value S.sub.Mean and standard deviation S.sub.Std dev of all S.sub.i excluding S.sub.

Abstract: An angle .theta. formed between a horizontal line passing through the contact point P and a slant surface of a mantle based on an empirical rule corresponding to the vertical distance L ranging from the reference line S to the contact point P of the mantle continued to vary due to abrasion is inputted in advance into an angle inputting and outputting device, the angle .theta. corresponding to the vertical distance L detected by a distance sensing device in reference to an angle inputted value is selected and at the same time the selected angle is inputted into the distance calculating device, a product of a distance difference .DELTA.L between the contact point P of the concave and the contact point P of the mantle and a cosine value of the angle .theta. is calculated by the distance calculating device, resulting in that an inputting operation for the angle .theta. can be eliminated, so that a stop time of the cone crusher is reduced and an operating efficiency of the cone crusher is improved.

Abstract: A stirring apparatus according to the present invention detects a weight of a stirring fluid, such as water or some other fluid, by using a hall sensor. The present invention, a method and apparatus for measuring a weight of a stirring fluid, detects the number of revolutions of a stirring motor, which varies according to the amount of an object fluid, by using a hall sensor to compute a weight of the fluid corresponding to the revolutions.