Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for integrated reclosing of circuit breakers in a power substation by providing a programmable controller which is programmed to detect the opening of a circuit breaker and initiate a reclosing window during which time it can generate a command signal to the opened circuit breaker commanding it to close.

Abstract: The present invention is an inline tester for analyzing the integrity of a disk drive. Structurally, the inline tester includes a set of statistical and diagnostic routines included in the ROM of a disk drive and a diagnostic logic section included in the drive's logic board. In initial use, the inline tester reconfigures the drive, making the drive less tolerant of flaws within the drive's media. The drive is also reconfigured to enable error detection and disable error correcting codes as well as device retries. Each sector of the media is then tested with multiple test patterns and failing sectors are added to a list of suspected sectors. At the conclusion of testing, the drive is restored to its normal operating configuration with error correcting codes and device retries enabled. Later, each sector in the list of suspected sectors is re-tested. Sectors that fail are added to the drive's list of bad sectors and are replaced by an alternate sector allocated from a reserved portion of the drive.

Abstract: A smart meter/billing system that eases the transition to commodity-like marketplace operations for electric power, and supports near real-time load balancing between competing suppliers of electric power. Existing watt-hour meters become multi-parameter terminals or smart meters that measure consumption per unit of time correlatible to calendar-time, measure near real-time demand, measure reliability, store information and transmitting it to a smart meter reader when properly interrogated. The smart reader periodically sends its accumulated information to a billing computer. An optional ancillary system uses the same smart meters to support automatic load balancing between competing suppliers that share common distribution facilities. Supplier designated demand increments from possibly millions of consumers, are summed according to the supplier-of-record, over near real-time intervals.

Abstract: A Voltage Range Detection Circuit (VRDC) (8) determines the supply voltage range of the integrated circuit. In general, voltage detector (10) determines the voltage level of supply voltage V.sub.DD and stores the result of this determination in storage (12). Resistor network (14), which receives the stored result, configures itself in the proper resistor configuration for the determined supplied voltage such that a compare signal is generated that represents a Variable Low Voltage Detection (VLVD) switch point. Resistor network (14) outputs this generated VLVD switch point signal to a first input of comparator (18) to be compared with the constant level reference voltage output by voltage reference (16) at a second input of comparator (18). When the output of resistor network (14) drops below the reference voltage provided by voltage reference (16), comparator (18) outputs a reset signal to disable the chip because a low voltage condition has occurred.

Abstract: An electrophysiology diagnostic device generating a high voltage (HV) pulse of a predetermined shape, which device is electrically connected to a patient's heart, i.e., a load resistance and which device includes a microprocessor and a load resistance measuring device, includes of a rapid response voltage threshold determination (RRVTD) circuit. The RRVTD circuit receives an actual signal corresponding to the HV pulse waveform, compares the actual signal with a desired signal and produces an error signal when the actual signal deviates from the desired signal by a predetermined threshold value. A method for operating a RRVTD circuit is also described.

Abstract: A spatial phase sensor having a lens or opening, or the like, through which electromagnetic radiation signals are directed. Mechanism is provided for receiving the electromagnetic radiation signals and for providing an enhanced electrical signal therefrom. The spatial phase of the electromagnetic radiation signals is first determined by analysis of the polarization vectors of the electromagnetic radiation signals and a sensor is provided for converting the electromagnetic radiation signals into electrical signals containing data corresponding to the determined spatial phase of the electromagnetic signals.

Abstract: A circuit for determining and reporting the energy consumed by an electronic device having a microprocessor and power supply lines for supplying power to the device is disclosed. The circuit comprises a voltage divider connected for sensing the voltage across the power supply lines and generating a voltage signal indicative of the sensed voltage. A current sense resistor is connected in series with a power supply line for sensing the current passing through the power supply lines and generating a current signal indicative of the sensed current. An analog multiplier is connected for receiving and computing the product of the voltage and current signals, and for generating a power signal indicative of the product of the voltage and current signals, the power signal being indicative of the power consumed by the device.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a digital pulse sampling and detection technique which samples a nuclear pulse train at a constant frequency asynchronously with the actual pulses, which occur at random times. The shape of pulses representative of the interaction of nuclear particles or gamma-rays with a nuclear detector is analyzed to determine the pulse length. Nuclear particles or gamma-rays are detected. A signal is formed containing pulses representative of the particles or gamma-rays. The pulses are sampled at a constant frequency to form a digital image of the pulse train. The pulse length is determined by counting the number of pulses with a first number of consecutive samples above a threshold and by counting the number of pulses with a second number of consecutive samples above the threshold. A ratio of the first and second number of consecutive samples is obtained. The ratio is used to adjust the pulse length.

Abstract: A dynamic versioning system for synchronizing different versions of modules among different versions of a complex multi-module software system, and maintaining a consistent view of a version of the complex system for each user having access to the system. The dynamic versioning system grants a user read-only access to the multiple modules in a complex system, and promotes the access to write access only when a user is ready to save a modified module in the permanent non-volatile memory of the complex system. The dynamic versioning system manages the evolving versions of the complex system with a Dynamic Versioning Table (DVT) and master modules that identify the multiple slave modules associated with a particular version of the complex system. Old versions of modules are removed from the complex system's permanent non-volatile memory when the last user has terminated use of the complex system.

Abstract: A transducerless position determining system and method of using the same for determining the relative position of a mechanical member or component which is driven by an electric motor within an electromechanical system. The transducerless position determining system includes a microcontroller with a software model that simulates the acceleration, deceleration and velocity characteristics of the electric motor as a function of applied voltage thereto and the load characteristics of the electromechanical system. The applied voltage is sampled electronically to monitor its amplitude level, and microcontroller software and associated circuitry is used to accurately detect application and removal of the applied voltage to the electric motor.

Abstract: A device (10) for automatically determining filtration parameters for a sample of a filter aid material includes a measurement tube assembly (14) comprising a generally vertical measurement tube (34) and a septum (40) disposed within the tube for forming a filter cake of a filter aid material, a plurality of actuatable valves (V1-V12) coupled to the inlet (32) and discharge (44) of the measurement tube assembly for controlling water flow into and out of the assembly, a control and processor system (17) including a computer (200) operable to control the valves in accordance with a predetermined cycle to flush a slurry of filter aid into the measurement tube assembly and then cause water to flow under pressure through the measurement tube assembly and through a filter cake formed on the septum, and instrumentation (110, 120, 122, 130, 140) for measuring parameters needed for determining filtration parameters.

Abstract: A data switch for transferring data from either actual line readings or from stored memory to the input of a relay tester. The device uses a digital switch set between the A/D converter and the CPU of an electronic relay. The switch permits technicians and engineers to either pass data to the CPU from the system through the A/D converter or, by switching, feed the CPU data from the RAM, which has been loaded with the archived data. In this way, the relay system software can be examined and tested using actual event data under ordinary conditions as desired, with relay settings changed between tests to verify the efficacy of the changed settings to perform as desired for the recorded conditions. The digital switch can be either a hard-wired element, or can be a soft switch, operated through software instructions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for detecting and avoiding faults stemming from conflicts in hardware and/or software configurations in a computer system. The system comprises communications circuitry that, from time to time, automatically transmits at least part of the current hardware and software configuration data of the computer system to a remote data source capable of identifying inherent conflicts in the hardware and software configuration. The remote data source then transmits to the computer system software revisions that are capable of resolving the inherent conflicts. After the communications circuitry receives the software revisions, processing circuitry in the computer system modifies the current software configuration according to the received software revisions.