Abstract: A measuring circuit device comprising a measuring circuit, a display associated with the measuring circuit for displaying data generated by the measuring circuit, a display test circuit for testing the display, a performance test circuit associated with the measuring circuit for actuating the measuring circuit to display predetermined reference measured data by the display, a switch for initiating operation of the device, a switch circuit which upon actuation of the switch actuates the display test circuit and the performance test circuit, and which in a predetermined time period, initiates a measuring operation by the measuring circuit.

Abstract: For monitoring stranding machines for breakage or run-out of single strands, a device is employed which checks the rope or cable after stranding for uniformity of the rope or cable surface. For this purpose, an electrical image of the rope or cable surface is read into a memory and the measured values compared with this stored pattern during the further stranding process. In the event of deviations resulting from this comparison, disconnecting or other actuating elements are actuated in order to avoid the production of further faulty lengths of rope or cable. For reflection measurements, electromagnetic, optical or acoustic waves can be employed. Instead of scanning of the rope or cable surface based on reflection, corpuscular radiation which partially penetrates the rope or cable can be employed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing CT images in which localized regions ("rub-out" regions) of the original object are not reproduced in order to eliminate artifacts generated by objects within those regions. An operator defines a rub-out region encompassing the object to be removed. The projection set is then modified by creating an average function within the rub-out region which is strongly influenced by the discontinuity created by the object. That information is then utilized to modify the projection set, in effect eliminating the object from the set. The projection set is then used to create a reconstructed image in the normal way.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for topographic feature extraction by masking a video signal representation of an optical image using a two-dimension Walsh function is disclosed. The optical energy of an image is converted into a video signal. A Walsh function signal in accordance with a two-dimension Walsh is generated. The video signal is multiplied with the Walsh function signal to produce a Walsh transform coefficients signal indicative of the decomposed spectral components of the image. The method and apparatus can further include providing selected topographical feature signals in accordance with the Walsh transform coefficients of selected topographic features. A selected topographical feature can be detected by comparing the Walsh transform coefficients signal with the selected topographical feature signals. The Walsh transform coefficients signal is unique to the selected topographical feature being detected.

Abstract: An infrared Fourier transform spectrometer is used to measure the absorbance spectrum of a sample of unknown oxygen or carbon content. From the spectrum, the roughness of the wafer is defined, and such roughness definition is then used to calculate the oxygen or carbon content. The roughness can be defined by using the slope of the absorbance spectrum or by the degree of shift of the baseline of the oxygen or carbon peak.

Abstract: A dielectric compensated level indicator control system including a microprocessor that controls the height and therefore the amount of a substance, such as fluid or granular solid, to be contained in a closed or open tank or vessel. The system has a measurement probe whose capacitance is a function of the level of substance in the tank and a reference probe whose capacitance is a function only of the dielectric constant of the substance. The appropriate zero capacitance is subtracted from each probe capacitance and a ratio between the resulting difference capacitances is determined. This ratio is independent of the dielectric constant of the substance and represents the percent fullness of the tank. When substances with different dielectric constants are placed in the vessel no span recalibration of the probe is required. A single transmitter is used to transmit along a single transmission channel a single signal which represents the capacitance of both probes.

Abstract: A device is provided for enabling the signal generated by a sensing device to be presented which is representative of the property sensed of a flowing material over a conveyor, or the like. The output is presented for observation and/or as a usable input to control means responsive to the sensed property. A pair of signals, one with a slow time constant, the other with a fast time constant, is derived from the sensing device signal. An output signal is in turn derived from one of the two signals, normally the slow. From the event rate in the sensing device, the expected statistical deviation is computed and utilized as the threshold of divergence of the pair of signals. When the divergence exceeds the threshold, the fast signal is switched to be the same value as the slow signal so that no perceptible perturbation appears in the output and the output signal is derived from the fast signal.

Abstract: An aircraft is provided with wind velocity measuring equipment which measures the wind velocity both (1) close to the aircraft and (2) at a considerable distance such as one-half mile or a mile away from the aircraft; and a large difference in these two measured velocities indicates dangerous windshear conditions. Either a warning signal is given to the pilot, or automatic control apparatus is actuated, to avoid crash conditions. A single pulsed carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser velocimeter may be mounted in the aircraft for measuring both the close-in and the distant wind speeds. The laser optic focus is shifted between the near and far measurements, and the return signal is time gated to increase signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A power line monitor capable of monitoring multiple power lines simultaneously includes a channel circuit for each monitored line, a common logic circuit and control logic. The signal on each power line is analog-to-digital converted and stored in channel circuit memory. A trigger detector produces a trigger detect signal in response to the monitored signal exceeding a preset limit. The trigger detect signal initiates a delay time during which the conversion and storing process in the triggered channel continues. The delay time is selected such that a desired amount of both pre- and post trigger data is retained in the associated channel memory. The control logic is operable in either a manual or an automatic mode. In the manual mode, memory stored data in a triggered channel is repetitively cycled to a digital-to-analog converter provided in the common logic, whereby an operator can monitor the stored waveform and, if desired, load the channel memory contents to magnetic tape.

Abstract: Apparatus for evaluating signals generated by first and second spatially separated rows of photoconductors positioned with respect to a measuring plane. The outputs of the photoconductors in each of the rows is scanned by a sampling circuit at a predetermined rate, and the outputs of each sampling circuit coupled to at least one evaluation circuit. Each of the evaluation circuits includes an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the output of the associated sampling circuit, and a pair of digital delay circuits having their inputs alternately coupled to the output of the A/D converter. A comparator is provided for comparing a threshold signal generated by a reference generator with the outputs of the digital delay circuits, the comparator generating a digital signal having a value corresponding to the difference between the ratio of the signals at the outputs of the delay circuits and the threshold signal.

Abstract: A noise elimination device employs a concept of the linear prediction method. According to the invention, a linear prediction coefficient of a digitized, continuous input signal (an original signal) is calculated, a linear predicted value is computed from this linear prediction coefficient, difference (a prediction error) between the linear predicted value and the input signal is computed whereas a threshold value is set in accordance with the momentarily changing input signal, the judgement that a noise has occurred is made when the predicted value has exceeded the threshold value and thereupon a substitution signal is produced on the basis of an input signal existing in the vicinity of the time point at which the noise has occurred, and the section in which the noise has occurred is substituted by this substitution signal thereby to eliminate the noise.

Abstract: In a colorimetric measurement using a non-linear curve relating an absorbance to a concentration of substance to be measured, the non-linear curve is corrected by measuring an absorbance value y.sub.6 ' of only one of six standard samples of known different concentrations x.sub.1, x.sub.2 . . . x.sub.6 which are used for making the initial non-linear curve, deriving a quotient .alpha. by dividing the newly measured absorbance value y.sub.6 ' by a previously measured absorbance value y.sub.6, deriving corrected absorbance values y.sub.1 ', y.sub.2 ' . . . y.sub.5 ' by producing products .alpha.y.sub.1, .alpha.y.sub.2 . . . .alpha.y.sub.5 of the quotient .alpha. and previously measured absorbance values y.sub.1, y.sub.2 . . . y.sub.5, and by forming a corrected non-linear curve with the aid of the corrected absorbance values y.sub.1 ', y.sub.2 ' . . . y.sub.5 ' and the newly measured absorbance value y.sub.6 '.

Abstract: The specification discloses an electronic dynamic balance leak testing system utilizing a "live zero", wherein a source of test medium at a predetermined desired pressure or vacuum is connected to a part to be tested, and after the part is filled with the test medium, and an interval is provided for the system to stabilize the affects due to wave front oscillations, the test part is momentarily isolated from said test media and a microcomputer system is utilized, both to cause said isolation, and to measure the differential pressure existing at two points during the test. In a modification of our system which can dynamically project leak and accept or reject parts much sooner because of this projection feature, the rate of change of the differential pressure transducer is examined and is compared to a curve which is characteristic of the rate of change of a volume which is experiencing a predominately leak based change of pressure.

Abstract: Two methods are disclosed for eliminating the influence of guidance errors on the precision of determining the position of guided machine parts as in a coordinate-measuring machine, whereby the resulting measurement may be provided with a correction which is dependent on the guidance error. In a first method of the invention, the relevant guidance errors of the machine are determined and approximated by correction functions which are stored in the computer of the machine; the stored correction functions are used for automatic correction of errors otherwise inherent in operation of the coordinate-measuring machine. In a second method of the invention, additional measuring devices are mounted to displaceable parts of the machine, and these devices respond to changes in offset distance from reference surfaces arranged parallel to applicable coordinate guides; these measurement devices provide continuous detection of guidance errors, throughout the measurement process.

Abstract: A temperature control system for an electrically heated cutaneous gas sensor. A heating element is provided with heating current by a closed loop temperature control system. The system includes a plurality of temperature monitoring and control circuits which are arranged to turn off a switch that controls the flow of current through the heating element if the temperature of the sensor varies outside of acceptable limits. The system also includes latching circuitry for maintaining the off state of the switch after the occurrence of an out of limits condition, and circuitry for preventing the latching circuitry from being actuated during normal temperature transients.

Abstract: An electron beam exposure system and method which varies beam size from pattern to pattern corresponding to the accuracy required for each pattern. In order to improve the throughput of the exposer, the beam size is adjusted to the maximum size useable for each pattern. The pattern is divided into rectangles equal to the maximum beam size determined by the pattern size or the accuracy required for the pattern. If a residual part of the pattern smaller than a rectangle remains, the rectangles are adjusted to be smaller than the maximum beam size, so the entire area of the pattern can be divided into equal size rectangles. The pitch and size of the beam are adjusted to this new beam size and exposure is repeated according to the new size rectangles.

Abstract: A piping system surveillance apparatus has a CRT for displaying a graphic pattern of a piping system. Detectors are arranged in active construction members such as a valves, and pumps of the piping system so as to directly detect the presence/absence of fluid flow in the active construction members in accordance with operating conditions thereof. The presence/absence information of the fluid flow in non-active construction members is obtained by a CPU in accordance with logic operation of detection signals from the detectors. Data indicating the presence/absence of the fluid flow is compared with data indicating the presence/absence of the fluid flow in the construction members of the piping system in normal operation and is discriminated to be normal/abnormal. This discrimination result and the data indicating the presence/absence of actual fluid flows are displayed by the corresponding display elements of the graphic pattern on the CRT.

Abstract: A machine for scanning printing plates to determine the ratio of "printing" to "non-printing" area for pre-adjustment of the ink dosing elements of a printing machine has an array of electronic photo-sensors, each sensor being disposed in a channel having low-reflection chambers which permit sharp delimination of resolution elements on the printing plate and ensure high definition scanning of different types of printing plates under practical conditions. Preferably the diaphragms dividing the channel into chambers have greater spacing at greater distances from the element sensed on the printing plate. To accommodate printing plates of different materials, means are provided for selecting the wave length of the light source. To prevent measurement error due to changes in the distance from the printing plate to the light source and sensor array, the photosensor array is preferably directed or aimed 60.degree. to 45.degree.

Abstract: A gas detecting apparatus is disclosed in which detection outputs from a plurality of semiconductor gas detecting elements different in gas detection characteristic from each other and previously-obtained characteristic values of the semiconductor gas detecting elements for a mixed gas are subjected to operational processing to detect one or more specified constituent gases contained in the mixed gas, and in which when the specified constituent gas is detected, the detection information is announced by some means, and also the supply of gas is stopped or a supply gas is diluted.

Abstract: Structural details of industrial plants are derived from stereo-pair photographs by analyzing the structure into basic 3D unit shapes. The information is stored in a data store and may be obtained by interrogation of the store, as a direct print out through a graphics display, or via an interfaced graphic display system, such as PDMS. Plant structural designs can be readily modified by altering the basic unit shapes within the data store and/or their parameters.