Abstract: A system for measuring the relative elongation of portions of a moving steel strip. A number of capacitive sensors positioned above one surface of the moving strip monitor the distance between each sensor and the surface of the strip. This information is processed through a geometrical relationship to calculate the percent relative elongation at one sensing position with respect to another. The calculation may be performed instantaneously, or result from several measurements averaged over a cell length. Provision is made for greater accuracy in cases where waviness of the strip results in the occurrence of more than a predetermined number of waves during a cell length. Wave steepness, wave periodicity, and categorization of relative length information are also provided by the processing.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating figures on a display screen with vector segments being stored in a plurality of picture generators, the apparatus including a segment memory, a decoding unit, a dot memory, an edge memory and a mixer unit. The segment memory transmits a signal representing segment data for all vector segments associated with a given raster line. The decoding unit receives the signal from the segment memory and responds to the same. A determination is made with respect to the edge of a surface and as to whether this edge constitutes an illuminate or extinguish edge. The dot memory stores luminance and color information. The edge memory receives information from the decoding unit and includes circuitry for denoting what picture element is to be activated on a given raster line and the luminance value which has the highest priority with the activated picture element. The mixer unit receives signals from the dot memory and edge memory and forms a complete digital video signal.

Abstract: Vectors on a graphics display are styled according to a specifiable pattern of on/off segments at the same time that they are drawn on the display by integrating the styling of each pixel on the vector at the same time the location of that same pixel is determined according to Bresenham's algorithm.

Abstract: In order to compensate reproduction errors in electroacoustic transducers (W), for example electrodynamic loud-speakers, microphones and pickup systems, computer circuits are used. In a digital computer circuit, the electrical input signals (U.sub.1 ) are converted into altered output signals (U.sub.2) according to the inherent properties of the transducer (W), stored in a memory (PROM), with the aid of a programme, which is likewise stored. When analogue computer circuits are used, the complex inherent response of the converter (W) in respect of the amplitude/frequency response and phase/frequency response is approximated mathematically in a closed, inverse form, and the resulting function is simulated with the aid of integrators (B), summing elements (S), inverters (I) and adjusting members (P).

Abstract: An improved logic simulation system including a logic simulator which provides the logic states of elements within an electronic circuit being analyzed, means for associating the logic states with a schematic image of the electronic circuitry for display on a visual display device, wherein the improvement includes means for designating the color of the element being displayed which color represents the logic state of the element for a selected point in time.

Abstract: A method for producing scaleable contour data that is capable of providing: (1) bit-map font data at any resolution and at any point size and, (2) grid aligned contours for output to contour driven devices such as, pen plotters and numerically controlled machines, is disclosed. The method "stretches" and "compresses" character contours to bring specified contour points ("Skeletal Points") into proper alignment with the "bit-map grid". The mathematical basis for the method is one of (1) breaking the character contour into segments (between a pair of Skeletal Points), (2) offsetting all coordinates in the segment to bring the first Skeletal Point to align with the grid, and finally, (3) linear scaling of the segment with a scale factor which brings the second Skeletal Point to align with the grid.

Abstract: A photocomposition system operating under microprocessor control to load, and alternatively display, character data from two respective bit maps. The data is assembled in the bit maps as a series of vertically adjacent video words generated from font data stored as a series of character boundary points and loaded into the bit maps in a controlled fashion to avoid destructive interference with image data already stored in the bit maps. Data in the bit maps can be displayed either on a CRT or via a laser printer or photocomposition system. System memory includes a plurality of fonts of data in which the characters are segmented into short segments and the boundary points thereof digitally recorded. From the recorded points, a curve fit of an arc section is used to define the complete character boundary for each segment and video data words are generated to indicate the boundaries on the vertical segments of the character defined by the arc sections fit to the recorded points.

Abstract: A scale under microprocessor control weighs each batch of currency. The weight measurement is compared against predetermined stored weight values to determine if the currency being weighed is strap currency or unstrapped currency and to determine the range of the currency count. Dependent upon the result of these comparisons, the proper routine is selected during which the last currency measurement is compared against the measurement criteria of the selected routine to either confirm the accuracy of the count or indicate an error. An average strap value is created from a table of stored values for at least one of the strap quantities and is updated each time a strap of that quantity is weighed. The averaging technique employed creates an average from the weights of the last ten straps of that quantity measured, and which are stored in the table. The averaging is performed after the table is updated.

Abstract: A collating and binding system for producing customized versions of books includes means for detecting a defective book, means responsive to the detecting means for rejecting the defective book and means for reordering the rejected book at a point in an original production sequence determined in accordance with a comparison of the postal information of the rejected book with the postal information of a book currently being produced. An indication of the postage required to mail the produced books is derived from an amount calculated before the books are produced and from indications of postage increases for those books which were reordered at subsequent portions in the original production sequence.

Abstract: A frequency detector in a frequency control for a generating system includes a system processor and a counter for deriving a digital count proportional to the output frequency of the generating system. The system processor executes a series of control cycles during which the processor controls the speed at which the generating system is driven in accordance with the output frequency. The system processor detects the digital count at a predetermined point in each control cycle and resets the counter to initiate generation of a new digital count. The data from the detector does not require an interrupt handling procedure and hence complexity is minimized.

Abstract: A measurement device for measuring a physical property such as temperature difference, displacement, pressure, fluid flow rate, etc.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive data input device for use with a computer system having a display screen has a demountable bezel which establishes a grid of light beams in front of the display screen. Misalignment between the display screen frame of reference and the bezel frame of reference is corrected by the calculation of coordinate transforms which are applied to bezel grid coordinates to translate same to display screen coordinates. The coordinate transforms are generated by the computer in accordance with a program of instructions executed in a preliminary bezel alignment procedure.

Abstract: Pressure variation detecting type leakage inspection equipment which applies a fixed fluid pressure to an article to be inspected and judges whether the article is non-defective or defective, depending upon whether a change in the fluid pressure or in the differential pressure between the article under inspection and a comparison tank is within a prescribed value, data on pressure values or differential pressure values by respective measurement which are within a proper value range are stored in succession, the stored data are averaged to obtain a correction value, and data by each measurement is corrected by the correction value, thereby automatically correcting an error which varies owing to various factors. Thus a proper leakage inspection can be achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a sensor output that includes a logic unit (11) for receiving uncalibrated sensor signals from a sensor (13) and for receiving data from a data base unit (12) regarding test points that relate to that particular sensor's (13) performance. Based upon these inputs, the logic unit (11) can provide a sensor reading calibrated to a preselected standard.

Abstract: A minicomputer provides signals representative of an image to three memory units via a sixteen bit data bus. Signals representative of sixteen central pixels of the image and neighbors thereof are provided from the memory units to a tessellation memory. In response to the central pixels and their neighbors forming a predetermined pattern, signals representative of the central pixels may be altered, whereby the central pixels are processed simultaneously. Signals representative of the processed central pixels are provided to the minicomputer via the data bus.

Abstract: A video memory and display (CRT) controller circuit on a single semiconductor substrate controls a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) used as a video memory and a CRT display. The video memory and display controller is normally a part of a video system which includes a data processor, video memory and a CRT display. The video memory and display controller includes a row address latch for storing a row address, a column address latch for storing a column address, display address logic which generates row and column addresses for display update ad refresh logic which generates row addresses for the required periodic DRAM refresh. A multiplexer provides the application of the proper address to the address bus of the DRAM. The display controller circuit is responsive to the data processor data bus for generating display control signals for control of the CRT display.

Abstract: This invention concerns a flow apparatus and method for the detection of particles in a sample. Particles are moved, substantially one at a time, in a fluid flow stream. An incident beam of illumination is provided so as to be directed at the particles in the flow stream. Data associated with each moving particle as it passes through the beam of illumination is detected. A class of particles is established, these particles having common characteristics based on the data detected from such class of particles. The data is then stored. Such stored data is compared to data detected from sample particles of an unknown class. A determination is then made that particles from the unknown class belong to the established class as a result of matching respective data.

Abstract: To sense the positions of ink measuring strips on a printed sheet and to scan the ink measuring strips with a densitometer, the printed sheet is placed on a commerically available digitizing board of the kind including a manually operated stylus and the densitometer is mounted on the positioning head of an X-Y positioning mechanism secured to the digitizing board. Preferably, the printed sheet includes position indicating marks which may be scanned by the stylus so that the position and orientation of the printed sheet with respect to the digitizing board is sensed. For repetitive testing of a number of printed sheets using the same format or arrangement of ink measuring strips, the format referenced to sheet coordinates is recalled from computer memory and transformed to the coordinate reference of the digitizing board using coordinate transformation coefficients based on the sensed position of the printed sheet with respect to the digitizing board.

Abstract: An automatic spectrum analyzer is provided with enhanced features for measured data handling and analysis. One feature allows the user to establish a sequence of operations to be performed at the end of each sweep of the instrument. Another feature enables the user to specify a particular signal amplitude and to have a marker placed on a displayed signal trace at that amplitude. Still another feature provides a marker that can be positioned on the next signal peak to the right or the left of the current marker position, enabling the display of the amplitude and frequency of the signal on which the marker is placed.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining attitude of a satellite by using a star sensor includes a ground terminal equipped with a data processing unit and star catalogue, a star sensor, an estimating the unit for estimating attitude of the satellite and a decision unit for deciding the attitude determination mode I or II in dependence on attitude stability of the satellite. In the mode I, angles representative of the satellite attitude are estimated by the estimating unit on the basis of a star sub-catalogue prepared by utilizing a priori information. In the mode II, the attitude angles are estimated by the data processing unit through data transaction with the ground terminal without resorting to the use of the priori information.