Abstract: A timing generator which may be used for multiple-cycle controllers is disclosed. A Johnson counter which may have a selectively operable delay interposed between successive stages is utilized with an oscillator and a plurality of multiplexers to provide a plurality of timing pulse train cycles. Circuitry is provided to eliminate spurious output signals from the timing generator.

Abstract: A data system and method for entering, storing and displaying a desired digital time which replaces a conventional input keyboard, rotary switch, or thumbwheel switch for a digital timer or clock. This system processes the voltage from a manually positioned wiper of a potentiometer through an inexpensive analog-to-digital converter, displays the digital data to the operator for identification, and holds the data for further processing. The operator repositions the wiper so as to sequentially display a digital time in response to a static or steady state digital signal until the desired digital time is displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a fuel pump register and register drive unit assembly having a register with pairs of oppositely facing volume and cost counters, conventional reset means for resetting the counter wheels to zero between fluid deliveries, the volume counters being mechanically indexed in a conventional manner for registering the volume amount of fuel delivered, and the cost counters being indexed by a pair of electrical stepping motors with one stepping motor connected for indexing the lowest order counter wheels of both cost counters and the second stepping motor connected for indexing the second lowest order cost counter wheels of both cost counters, the remaining higher order counter wheels of both cost counters being indexed via transfer pinions in a conventional manner.

Abstract: When trains of signals, derived from a written template signature, are to be compared directly with trains of signals, derived from a written specimen signature, because no two written signatures are identical, there is a requirement for providing a certain degree of "rubberiness" between the specimen and template signals. Previously, such rubberiness was achieved by breaking up the trains of signals into fixed portions and then conducting translation, stretch and contraction between these fixed portions in the course of the comparison. In this invention, advantage is taken of the existence of prominent landmarks in the trains of signals of the template and specimen signatures. The trains of signals are broken into segments by these landmarks. Segments of the specimen are stretched or contracted and translated to match corresponding segments of the template, to greatly simplify and enhance correlation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the method of and apparatus for performing test operations on a primary counter to make sure that it is continually providing correct operational capability. The tests comprise periodically interrupting the operation of the primary counter, forcing it to count to both the maximum and minimum limits and checking to make sure that the limit has been obtained, inserting an intermediate number and checking to be sure that this number can be transferred therethrough and then resetting the primary counter to the count of a backup counter which has been keeping count during the test process. Finally, a comparison is continually provided during normal operation between the backup and the primary counter to make sure that they are tracking with the same counts. Failure of any of the comparisons or tests to be completed in accordance with specified results causes an error signal to be generated as an alarm.

Abstract: A tape recorder provided with means for indicating a number of reel rotations comprises a pulse generator for producing a pulse signal having pulses in a number proportional to a number of tape reel rotations. The pulses issued from the pulse generator and shaped by a wave-shaping circuit and conducted to a counter, which counts a number of pulses proportional to the tape reel rotations. The contents of the counter are indicated on an electronic digital display device.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling text storage in a text processing system using a segmented, serial bulk storage device. A plurality of storage segments of equal length are further subdivided into portions of equal length. A typical page of text occupies more than one portion of a segment. During system operation a log or directory is built and written, in updated form, onto a portion of the storage after any text data is written onto the storage. To minimize the time in accessing the predetermined portion on which the log is stored and to minimize wear of the electromechanical accessing components, portions of more than one segment are dedicated for storage of the log and the segment nearest that on which the text data is written is utilized for storage of the updated log. The beginning of the log includes an activity count indicitive of the number of text storage operations that has taken place. The most current log is found by seeking the highest activity count.

Abstract: A mile post and mileage indicator for maintaining the exact mile post position of a vehicle while said vehicle is travelling upon a roadway containing designated mile post signs, which increase or decrease in a particular direction. This indicator may also be used to indicate exactly how far the vehicle has travelled or how much further it must travel before it reaches a certain destination. The indicator contains electronic circuits for presetting a specific mileage onto a display and for increasing or decreasing the mileage display in conjunction with a pulser unit placed in the speedometer cable of the vehicle. A calibration unit is utilized which corrects minor errors in signals received from the vehicle transmission.

Abstract: A programmable frequency divider including a conventional dual modulus prescaler where neither modulus is a power of two. An adapter circuit is included for forcing the prescaler to follow a selected one of two preselected sequences of moduli. These sequences are selected so that a modified prescaler results having modified moduli, one of which is a power of two. The modified prescaler is used in a fully programmable frequency divider circuit. Since one of the modified moduli is a power of two, the frequency divider circuit may be programmed in full binary.

Abstract: The operator projects motion-picture film using a projector. A counter counts frame pulses during both forwards and reverse film transport, and thereby keeps track at all times of the film frame count. The operator during forwards projection when he sees the start or end of a scene pressss a storage switch which causes the scene-start or scene-end frame count to be stored. The operator also preselects the type of recording-transition effect to be implemented. The operator then commands dubbing of the scene, whereupon a minicomputer begins to automatically implement a series of operations, including projector motor control and recording control, to implement the selected recording-transition effect, in a programmed manner dependent upon the stored frame counts and the instantaneous frame count. In the middle of the dubbing of a scene, the operator can change the transition effect he selects, to produce a transition effect at the scene end different from that selected for the scene start.

Abstract: An electronic digital read-out scale having an extensible tape member is disclosed having a memory designed to store first measurement information for calculation with the subsequent measurement information. A memory key is included within the scale functions to transfer information to the memory. A plus key and a minus key are further provided within the electronic digital scale for addition or subtraction purposes, respectively. Final measurement results are derived through calculations of the measurement information stored in the memory with the subsequent measurement information.

Abstract: A vital relay driver whose response time can be readily controlled such that the release time of the relay may be varied, yet may be held to very close tolerances. The vital relay driver is controlled by a microprocessor dedicated to this function, such processor generating a dynamic signal of fixed frequency in dependence on a cycle number which is continually replenished; otherwise the microprocessor stops producing the dynamic signal and the relay is released in a closely known time.

Abstract: A solid state digital running time indicator is energized from the same power source supplying energy to a monitored event. A device for detecting when the power is on initiates a signal to timing circuitry for generating clock pulse signals and control timing signals. In response to an initial timing signal, a memory element reads the information from memory into a counter chain. The clock pulse signals are applied to the counter chain for counting up in predetermined increments of time from the number that is initially loaded into the counter chain from the memory element. Control circuitry writes the contents of the counter chain into the memory element after each predetermined increment of time. The total accumulated running time present in the counter chain is applied to drive and display circuitry for providing a visual indication of the running time of the event being monitored.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-contained piece of electronic equipment for monitoring the progress of a processing operation (e.g. production from a machine) and in its preferred embodiments gives digital displays of achievement and target counts for the monitored operation as well as a constantly updated performance rating based on a ratio of true achievement.

Abstract: A device for counting coins of different diameters and similar disk-shaped objects which are conveyed in irregular sequence. The edges of the coins contact a guide edge on a guide track which has a scanning head located therein for identifying the coins. An electronic evaluation and display unit receives the identification signals delivered by the scanning head. The scanning head has several electronic proximity sensors located at different distances from the guide edge. The paths of motion of the edges of coins away from the guide edge, run in the active areas of the proximity sensors which provide substantially clear identification signals distinguishing the coins to be identified. The diameter of the proximity sensors is approximately half the diameter of the smallest coin to be identified, and the several proximity sensors are located at different distances from the guide edge. These distances are determined by the paths of motion of different coins.

Abstract: An automatic character recognition system and method for identifying an unknown character which is one of a class of known characters. The system is set up using known specimen characters from a large character training set which must first be selected based on the use to which the character recognition will be put. Using the selected set, features and shapes of the character vocabulary in the set are obtained using selected feature scan parameters, are processed as a plurality of representative and normalized pieces of curves and are then stored in the form of binary coded representations. The system set-up also includes selecting and storing canonic shape parameters. The canonic shapes are separate pieces or segments of lines and curves which are selected on the basis that their shapes can be found as component parts or within a significant number of the characters within the character set.

Abstract: A data processing system has a processing unit adapted to decode instructions and a memory to store the instructions. A communication register has a plurality of binary bit positions with each bit position having bistable states. A first bit position in the communication register is directly addressed when an instruction is decoded in the processing unit and a second bit position in the communication register is then addressed responsive to the state of the first bit position addressed.

Abstract: An electrical signal originating from an abnormal sound is passed through a bandpass filter and compared with a reference signal by a comparator. When the electrical signal is not less than the reference signal, the comparator produces a pulse. A counter counts the pulses from the comparator and causes a display device to display the presence of the abnormal sound when its count exceeds a predetermined value within a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: The interval between arrival of two time displaced signals is measured with a resolution less than 0.5 nanoseconds by electronic vernier techniques utilizing transferred electron logic device circuits. The first arriving signal triggers a first clock generator of pulse period T.sub.C, the pulses from which are counted by a first counter and a second counter. The second arriving signal triggers a second clock pulse generator having a pulse period T.sub.V, the first pulse therefrom disabling the first counter at a count of M. As T.sub.V <T.sub.C coincidence of the pulses from the two clock pulse generators will eventually occur causing disabling of the second counter at a count of N. Time interval .DELTA.T is computed from the formula: .DELTA.T=(N-1)T.sub.C -(N-M)T.sub.V.

Abstract: Measurement of a time interval between a start and a stop event is made by activating a start oscillator in response to the start event and activating a stop oscillator in response to the stop event. The number of cycles of each respective oscillator signal which occur between the activation of each oscillator and the coincidence of the respective oscillator signal with that of an independent time base is determined. The number of cycles of the time base signal between the coincident points of it and the start and stop oscillator signal is also determined. These numbers, which are always integers, are used along with the values for the time base period and the difference in frequency between the time base oscillator and the start and stop oscillators to calculate the time interval. Resolution of the measurement is dependent on the frequency difference between the time base signal and the start and stop oscillator signals.