Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for the control of the transition to auto-cruise, which is capable of precluding detrimental phenomena such as dipping and hunting of the automobile speed while the control of the automobile speed is in transition from the manual status to the automatic status. In accordance to this invention, when the auto-cruise status is set, the apparatus unconditionally effects an initial setting of the throttle position to a provisional target throttle position which is dependent on the automobile speed as it exists at that moment, namely the target speed of the automobile, and thereafter the apparatus detects the deviation of the real speed of the automobile from the target automobile speed and, based on this deviation, effects feedback control of the throttle position.

Abstract: An electronic measuring and recording apparatus for use in wheeled vehicles and comprising a clock (1) for generation of time pulses and a signal generating device (3) for generation of pulses corresponding to a distance travelled by said vehicle and a memory (5) for storage of data related to the drive of said vehicle. A proportional converter (4) of said apparatus converts distance pulses into standard distance pulses which are supplied to said memory which in turn is connected to a data transmitter (9) for transfer of data to external data recording or data processing equipment. The time pulses and the standard distance pulses are converted into time fare pulses and distance fare pulses, respectively, in said proportional converter (4) controlled by a fare program (6), a distance program (7), a program (8) for automatic change of fare, and a functional program (10).

Abstract: The categories assigned to waveshapes (FIGS. 57-80) of signals derived from electrostatic probes (1, 2, 3, FIG. 1) disposed in the gas stream of a gas turbine engine are combined over a classification record group of about 20 or 30 records (FIG. 81). The possible causation of signals identified by positive and negative threshold crossings is statistically combined by summation across a group of records (FIGS. 85 and 86). The quality values indicative of the likelihood of a waveform correlating to a catagory of engine event are combined across records, category by category, before decisions are made (FIGS. 87 and 88).

Abstract: A method of and system for automatically operating an automotive vehicle in such a manner that a desired distance may be driven with a given quantity of fuel. The system is such that after a rate of fuel consumption has been determined on the basis of the fuel available and the distance to be driven, for instance, a control monitors and adjusts the output of the engine of the vehicle appropriately. Manual operation of the vehicle in this manner is made possible by actuating perceptible warning signals whenever the vehicle is operated in a manner deviating from the desired performance.

Abstract: A method for controlling operating cylinders in extending and contracting operations of a multistage telescopic boom including a base boom portion, an intermediate boom portion and a fore boom portion, the method including the steps of detecting the length of the boom by means of a boom length detector; permitting extension or contraction of a cylinder of the intermediate boom portion alone when the value (l) of a detected length is smaller than a first preset reference value (L-.beta.) which is determined by subtracting a preset arbitrary length (.beta.) from an actual length (L) of a boom with the intermediate boom portion fully extended relative to the base boom portion and a fore boom portion fully contracted relative to the intermediate boom portion; permitting extension or contraction of a cylinder of the fore boom portion alone when the detected value (l) is greater than a second preset reference value (L+.beta.

Abstract: A method for recalibrating nuclear density gauges comprises the taking of count rate data from two calibration blocks, preferably magnesium and aluminum, for each source depth position of the gauge and thereafter computing new values for constants A and C in a standard working exponential equation for the gauge:CR=A exp (-BD)-C.

Abstract: A system for altering the size of an image by a desired magnification after optical scanning thereof provides a plurality of output scan values differing in number from the number of sampled scan signals produced during the optical scanning. The output scan values are representative of the density of the image at pixel locations spaced in rows and columns across the image, with the spacing of the pixel locations being dependent upon a selected magnification value. The system includes scanning means for providing a series of sequences of sampled scan signals, and converter means for converting the sequences of sampled scan signals to corresponding sequences of digital scan values. A control circuit is responsive to a selected magnification value for providing a plurality of interpolation control values in synchronism with the successive sequences of digital scan values.

Abstract: A system for recording terrain profile information is disclosed. The system accurately senses incremental distances traveled by a vehicle along with vehicle inclination, recording both with elapsed time. The incremental distances can subsequently be differentiated with respect to time to obtain acceleration. The acceleration can then be used by the computer to correct the sensed inclination.

Abstract: A display for aiding the pilot of an aircraft in anomalous wind environments. Wind velocity components are measured by an instrument 11, processed by a computer 12 and a vector generator 17 and then displayed as a vector 34 on the display shown in FIG. 3. A signal F indicative of flap position selects a flight validated lift curve which is displayed as a lift curve channel 42. During normal wind conditions the cursor 35 marking the termination of vector 34 is in the channel of curve 42. However, during wind anomalies cursor 35 moves outside the channel. It then becomes the task of the pilot to control the aircraft such that cursor 35 will move back into the channel.

Abstract: A digital method and a digital processor for determining the in-phase and quadrature-phase components of a phase error of a detected signal. An incoming carrier signal is sampled directly, then combined with estimated phase data (derived in the computer) in the digital processor to derive in-phase and quadrature-phase components of phase error that are provided to the computer for derivation of a subsequent estimate of carrier phase data.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gate array IC device in which the turn-around time on design is short, the system design is simple, and the memory area for designing is reduced. The method includes manufacturing a master bulk pattern of a basic cell array on the semiconductor substrate, and storing, in semi-permanent memory, symbol data and detailed data for standard macro cells and standard expanded macro cells prior to designing a logic system. Each macro cell comprises one or more basic cells and has a basic logic function. Each expanded macro cell comprises plural macro cells and has a more complicated and sophisticated logic function than the macro cells. In addition, the logic functions of the expanded macro cells are standard in the logic system design technology area. When a designer creates a logic system, only symbol data for the macro cells and the expanded macro cells, and the connections thereof are used and stored in the memory, so that it is relatively easy to design the system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for monitoring the operating status of a materials distribution network having a distribution pipeline and a plurality of pumping stations located at spaced intervals along the pipeline for pumping material through the pipeline, wherein each station includes one or more pumps connected to the pipeline and one or more motors having shafts connected respectively to the pumps for operating the pumps. A plurality of primary input parameters at each of the pumping stations are sensed, including the shaft speed of each of the motors, the output torque of each of the motors, and the energy input to each of the motors. A plurality of values including the power produced by each of the motors, and the operating efficiency of each of the motors are calculated from the input parameters. The calculated efficiency values are displayed for operator use. The economic and financial savings or losses are calculated for management use.

Abstract: In a dead reckoning navigation system a correlation scheme that operates in the frequency domain (using a discrete cosine transform (DCT) function) is implemented separately from the navigation system to determine a two-dimensional position error estimate. In this separate processing system measured terrain data is correlated (in the frequency domain) with reference elevation stored in map format (as by way of a digital map generator (DMG)). The results of this correlation are then employed to enhance the independently operated dead reckoning navigation system so that an accurate determination of geographic position may be obtained.

Abstract: A motor vehicle including a vehicle body, a front road wheel disposed in the front part of the vehicle body, a rear road wheel disposed in the rear part of the vehicle body, an engine for driving at least either of the front and rear road wheels, and a steering wheel for steering at least either of the front and rear road wheels. To facilitate the steering operation, the motor vehicle is improved by means of a transverse sliding angle detection system for detecting the transverse sliding angle of the vehicle body, and a moving direction display unit for visually displaying the moving direction of the vehicle body on the basis of an output of the transverse sliding angle detection system.

Abstract: By repeatedly adding items of picture element data representing an identical region of a serial picture element input which arrives serially in time, an improvement is effected in the S/N ratio of a periodic signal mixed in irregular, randomly occurring noise. A memory is provided for storing items of picture element data of one frame at storage locations corresponding to each of the picture elements. For each new item of picture element data that arrives, an item of picture element data of the same region accumulated and stored prior to said arrival is readout of the memory and added to the newly arrived data. The resulting sum is then written back into the memory at the same storage location. Thus, a single memory can be made to store picture data of enhanced S/N ratio merely by increasing slightly the bit storage capacity per data item in conformance with the number of times frames are accumulated.

Abstract: A portable computer based motor vehicle performance monitoring system which performs vehicle characteristic measurements and calculations. The system uses a distance sensor means, a fuel volume flow sensor means, and a fuel temperature sensor means for sensing various vehicle performance characteristics. The system has a computer controlled start/stop feature. It also has a user-prompting programming feature. It also has a combined liquid fuel volume and mass meter which uses a mathematical algorithm which converts volume data to mass data using a temperature sensitive function.

Abstract: An aircraft automatic flight control system (AFCS) includes a pair of fast, limited authority inner loop actuators responsive to signals indicative of aircraft attitude or other flight parameters such as airspeed, the inner loop being recentered by an outer loop actuator responsive to attitude or other aircraft parameter-indicating signals (54,55). Commands applied to the outer loop are applied in a lagged fashion in opposite direction so as to drive the inner loop actuators back toward the center of their authority. The rate of response of the outer loop is adaptive in response to magnitude of inner loop input (101, FIG. 2). A pitch bias command is provided to the inner loop as a function of airspeed multiplied inversely with collective pitch, and as a function of the rate of change of collective stick position, so as to provide a positive static pitch trim gradient and decouple collective pitch from the longitudinal cyclic pitch channel.

Abstract: A device for measuring the speed of a person while running along a surface is disclosed. A pressure switch or transducer located in a shoe senses when a foot of the runner is in contact with the surface and produces a foot contact signal having a duration proportional to the time the foot is in contact with the surface. A radio frequency transmitter is coupled to the pressure switch or transducer and transmits the foot contact signal. A radio frequency transmitter receives the foot contact signal transmitted by the frequency transmitter and a microprocessor coupled to the radio frequency receiver calculates, solely from the foot contact signal, an output speed signal representing the speed of the runner. A liquid crystal display coupled to the output of the microprocessor displays the speed of the runner in accordance with the output speed signal.

Abstract: An electronic postage meter includes a printer mechanism for printing postage and a microcomputer system for monitoring the printing of postage by the printing mechanism. A secure housing protects the printing mechanism and the microcomputer system. A source of operating potential is provided and is external to the secure housing. The electronic postage meter includes a system for energizing the microcomputer system. A transformer is provided and is mounted within the secure housing. The transformer secondary winding is operatively connected to the microcomputer system. A controlling circuit is coupled to the transformer primary winding and also to the external source of operating potential. The controlling circuit controls the voltage applied to the transformer primary winding and operates to switch the voltage applied to the transformer primary winding between a first condition where the transformer primary winding is energized and a second condition where the primary winding is not energized.

Abstract: Equipment which analyzes the wave shapes (FIGS. 57-80) of signals derived from electrostatic probes (1, 2, 3, 27) disposed in the gas stream of a gas turbine engine operates differently in dependence upon different engine conditions. When surge is detected (1, 90-93, FIG. 1) the signal records are stored away specially (FIGS. 8 and 8b) and classified specially (FIGS. 8c, 9, 9a and 9b) when a request therefor (93-95, FIG. 1) is made. Acceleration signals (FIG. 80) are looked for (FIG. 12) only when there is significant engine acceleration (FIG. 4). Only nozzle liner erosion (FIG. 69) is looked for (FIG. 12) when the afterburner is lit (89, FIG. 1), in one probe (3, FIG. 1) while at the same time afterburner rumble (FIG. 80) is looked for in a flameholder probe (27, FIG. 1) when the afterburner is lit. When the afterburner fuel is being chopped (FIG. 4a) only afterburner chop signals (FIGS. 77-79) are looked for (FIG. 12). When the engine speed is below idle, no records of signals are made (FIG. 8).