Abstract: An arbiter circuit is disclosed for processing requests made at least two subsystems in a multiprocessor system for access to a resource shared by the subsystems. The arbiter circuit includes an SR flip-flop composed of a pair of NAND gates. The flip-flop is operative in response to a time-staggered request signals from the subsystems to provide a request acknowledging signal to the shared resource. When two request signals are simultaneously supplied to the arbiter circuit, the outputs from the pair of NAND gates tend to stay at an intermediate level between the normal two distincitive logic levels, failing to produce an acknowledgment signal. However, the intermediate level of the NAND gate outputs is sensed by a NOR gate to a trigger a switching device into conduction, by means of which one of the intermediate NAND gate outputs is positively shifted to either of the active logic levels for the generation of an acknowledgement signal to the shared resources.

Abstract: In a terminal device adapted to effect transmission and receipt of information through address polling by a central monitoring/control device, an address having a predetermined number of bits is preset in a first address setter, and an address comparator compares the address of a predetermined number of bits set in the first address setter with address data sent from the central monitoring/control device. As the result of this comparison, when the address of the predetermined number of bits set in the first address setter coincides with an address sent from the central monitoring/control device, the central monitoring/control device sends a new address, and this new address is set in a second address setter with respect to the terminal device whose address has coincided. Thus, after the new address is set in the second address setter of each of the terminal devices, the terminal devices are polled by the central monitoring/control device on the basis of these new addresses.

Abstract: The invention features a theft resistant security system for motor vehicles. The system has receptacle with a coupling coil. A SAW (surface acoustical wave) device associated with the receptacle for relative movement thereto is also provided. The SAW device has a code and its own coupling coil for interaction with the receptacle coupling coil. A testing mechanism is connected to the receptacle for determining whether the code of the SAW device is valid for operation of the motor vehicle. Problems of crosstalk and wave reflection may produce spurious code pulses in systems of this type. The invention provides techniques for eliminating or reducing these unwanted pulses.

Abstract: In an exemplary communications system a multiplicity of mobile terminals are to share a communications link with a primary processor. The primary processor may transmit a multiterminal polling signal defining a series of successive response time slots which the terminals may randomly select. A terminal wishing to send a message transmits a brief response burst in the selected time slot giving its identification. The primary processor may then sequentially poll specific individual terminals having messages to send. The primary processor may maintain a record of currently active terminals and/or of collisions (where more than one terminal seeks to transmit in the same response time slot), and as needed may automatically send e.g. with its multiterminal poll, a time slot number change, creating a greater or lesser number of time slots for future use by the active terminals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identification of packet collisions which occur on a broadband communication bus. The collision detection apparatus is responsive to signals which normally reside on an RF packet channel. This apparatus identifies a collision by splitting a packet signal and then multiplying the split signal by itself utilizing a conventional mixer. The multiplied signal is passed through a bandpass filter and if no packet collision has occurred, then no significant signal energy will appear at the output of the bandpass filter. Howerever, in the event of a packet collision, then the multiplied output signal includes frequency components which pass through the bandpass filter to produce an energy level which is identified in a threshold detector.

Abstract: A DC bus circuit is disclosed for coupling multiple discrete signals from multiple discrete signal sources with multiple receivers remote from the signal sources. Each multiple signal source has two discrete positions or levels, such as opened or closed, and each signal source has an encoding resistor in series therewith, with no active components. Each encoding resistor has an ohmic value which is a discrete power of two times a reference resistor, and each signal source transmits its signal by grounding or ungrounding its resistor. Each multiple receiver is connected to its corresponding remote signal source by a common DC bus, and each receiver has a decoder circuit which compares the voltage on the DC bus with a reference voltage generated by a pair of reference resistors.

Abstract: A transponder, comprising means for receiving a periodically modulated interrogating signal; means for demodulating the received signal to produce a periodic baseband signal; and means for transmitting data at a rate determined by the periodicity of the baseband signal.

Abstract: Transmitting and receiving apparatus for transmitting data which includes a purged extended Golay (22,7) code encoder at the transmitter for encoding digital data into constant weight unbalanced codewords representative of the digital data. The constant weight unbalanced codewords contain error correction bits and are preferably transmitted as balanced codewords. When the receiver decodes the original digital data, improved tracking and acquisition of the transmitted data is achieved.

Abstract: A system for transmitting long text messages includes a plurality of transmission cells defining different geographical areas, each having a transmitter for simulcast address transmission at a first data bit rate and for transmitting the address and a message at a second data bit rate higher than the first data bit rate. A paging transceiver generates and transmits an acknowledgment signal in response to receiving a transmitted address at the first data bit rate. Receivers located within each of the transmission cells receive the transmitted acknowledgment signal. An apparatus responsive to the received acknowledgment signal identifies the transmission cell in which the paging transceiver is located effecting the selection of the transmitter in the transmission cell in which the paging transceiver is located to transmit the address and message at the second data bit rate higher than the first data bit rate.

Abstract: A remote control device capable of substantially eliminating affection of noise and radio interference and increasing a transmission rate to improve a response speed by alternately transmitting an absolute data and a difference data. When joysticks of a transmitter are operated depending on the desired amount of operation of a control drive unit, the transmitter alternately arranges an absolute signal and a difference signal corresponding to the operation and generates a modulated control signal, which is received by a radio receiver loaded on the control drive unit. The radio receiver demodulates the control signal into an absolute data signal and a difference data signal, which are then converted into a signal of only an absolute value by a converter. Then, a drive section drives and controls the movable controls of the control drive unit in response to the signal.

Abstract: An address management unit is provided for the conversion of logical addresses contained in a program into physical addresses for a multi-processor central control unit of a computer-controlled communications switching system comprising a central bulk storage, and additional memories in the processors, and peripheral units, a logical address forms a polysyllable address word of which one address syllable corresponds to the logical starting address of a logical address space and the other address syllable corresponds to the logical address within this logical address space. A special-purpose memory serves the purpose of storing four-syllable words having a long word length which are respectively stored therein under the addresses formed by the one address syllables.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of synchronizing data systems having different clock frequencies at a particular address. A first device receives first and second parallel data and outputs first serial data at a first particular clock frequency. A second device outputs second parallel data at a second particular clock frequency that is a submultiple at an integer "n" of the first particular clock frequency. The second parallel data is outputted in groups of "n" pieces of data. The address is combined with the integer "n" until the combination passes through a particular numerical value. This produces a first signal representative of the combination passing through the particular numerical value and a second signal representing an offset position less than "n" relative to the first serial data.

Abstract: A paging receiver is disclosed which is compatible with transmissions from analog or digital paging transmitters. The paging receiver has a command structure which permits it to be dynamically programmable to change its functionality including programming of the channels which the paging receiver is to receive. The programmability of the channels permits the paging receiver to be used for making national, regional, remote area, local area, and sublocal area pages, and pages to a group in the local area and to switch from channels which are heavily used during peak paging times to lesser used channels. The paging receiver transmits paging receiver identification code digits in an order of increasing significance which significantly lessens power consumption for all paging receivers tuned to a particular channel for determining if a page is to be received which prolongs paging receiver battery life. The paging receiver displays the place of origin or pages as either being of local origin or from other areas.

Abstract: A combined radio pager/analog timepiece that may be worn on the wrist of the user is described. The device includes a stepping motor to periodically advance the second hand of the watch portion. The voltage pulse device signals to the timepiece are effectively inhibited during those intervals when the paging receiver is activated. Receiver activation occurs so as to monitor its communication channel or actually process an intended message if its unique address has been received and detected. These inhibited, i.e. delayed, voltage device pulses are later applied to the stepping motor on an accelerated basis to bring the timepiece to current time status.

Abstract: A bill discriminating device which is able to carry out a bill discriminating operation at high speed and precision based on a reduced amount of processing data for bill-type discrimination by extracting and reading only characteristic regions of the bill. According to the present invention, bill discrimination can be carried out by: reading the picture image data output from an image sensor; roughly discriminating the type of bill from the length of the picture image data (corresponding to the width of the bill); reading position data and reference patterns of the characteristic regions corresponding to the type of bill; extracting picture image data (a characteristic pattern) corresponding to the characteristic regions from the position data; and, finally discriminating the type of bill by comparing the characteristic patterns with the reference patterns.