Abstract: An automated, computer-controlled system, and a corresponding method, for testing electro-optic modules, is disclosed.

Abstract: The system includes camber and toe sensing apparatus, a memory for storing camber and toe specifications for a plurality of vehicles, and a computer. The computer compares sensed camber and toe with corresponding specification of camber and toe, selects a shim from a plurality of standard shims and a shim orientation to attempt to correct both camber and toe in accordance with a preset priority, and determines residual camber error and residual toe error that would result from installation of the shim at the selected orientation. The user may select another orientation that attempts to correct both camber and toe in accordance with the manually requested desired priority. The user works with the system interactively, and can request various error priorities or allocation on the fly. The residual errors resulting from the selected priorities are displayed in substantially real time to provide visual feedback.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based burner control apparatus for use in preventing incorrect ignition signals. An inverting circuit inverts and limits the magnitude of a periodic input supply voltage to create an activating signal. This activating signal is applied to the reset terminal of the microprocessor, which enters an active state during the logic high level of the activating signal and enters an inactive state during the logic low level of the activating signal. The processor is connected to the output circuits, which can only be operated during the positive half-cycle of the input supply voltage. During initial operation of the system, the microprocessor is only active during the negative half-cycle, at which time the outputs cannot be activated. The microprocessor then performs a series of tests on the system, and if all the tests are passed, the microprocessor generates an output signal.

Abstract: Predictive maintenance method and apparatus for use with heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and/or refrigeration (HVACR) systems are disclosed. The preferred apparatus includes a dozen temperature sensors strategically located within and HVACR system to sense various operating temperatures and three electrical current sensors to sense various operating electrical currents. HVACR system conditions are measured periodically by an on-site service technician and inputted to a computer that identifies and reports the potential trouble spots represented by out-of-range measurements. The computer is programmed to produce graphs, tables and prediction commentary.

Abstract: A method for continuously correcting for the baseline drift of a sensor which measures a cyclically varying parameter. The output signal of the sensor is sampled rapidly over an integer number of cycles of the measured parameter. The sampled values of the output signal are stored as a data set in a memory circuit for subsequent analysis by a computing circuit to determine the actual baseline level of the sensor, which drifts at a rate relatively slowly in comparison to the time interval during which the data set was collected. In one embodiment of the invention, baseline level is calculated as the average of a fixed percentage of the points in the data set which have the lowest values found in the data set. In another embodiment, a data mask with multiple selection segments spaced at time intervals equal to the period of the cyclically varying measured parameter is used to determine those points from the data set which are averaged to calculate the baseline level.

Abstract: In a relay protective system a method of providing volts per Hz, loss of field, ground differential, phase distance and over voltage protective relay functions. In addition, the inventive method provides an improved method to selectively block any of the above functions in response to input contacts and selectively activate output contacts in response to operation of the above functions using programmable inputs and outputs.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the environment of a battery. The device takes the form of a generally flat wafer-like substrate having openings therein for receiving the posts of the battery. The device is arranged so that it is sandwiched between the battery and its connector when the female receptacles of the connector are mated with the posts. Circuitry on the wafer contains a memory for recording information about the battery characteristics. This information can be read from the memory to provide knowledge about battery operating time, number of charge/discharge cycles, number and severity of deep-discharge cycles, total time spent in deep discharge, temperature fluctuations and G-loads applied to the battery. By taking advantage of the existing space between mated battery connectors, no additional mounting hardware or battery modifications are required.

Abstract: An on-board measurement system includes a plurality of measurement modules each provided with internal or external transducers and a control module for conducting desired testing procedures. The modular logging apparatus is removably secured to a product undergoing a manufacturing process or the like whereby numerous or substantially continuous measurements can be made of environmental factors affecting a product. The control module also receives and stores measured data for later retrieval.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment apparatus includes wheel alignment sensors for obtaining wheel alignment data, including camber, and devices for measuring wheel offset distances. A controller compensates the measured wheel offset distances for the camber of the corresponding wheels. Ride height sensors are included for measuring the ride height of the vehicle at the wheels, and the controller also uses the ride height to compensate the wheel offset distances. Ride height is similarly compensated for camber by the controller. The body angle of the vehicle is obtained from the wheel offset measurements and the wheelbase of the vehicle. The body angle is used to compute dog track angles and correct those angles by applying the body angle to the individual toe angles of the reference axle. Axle offsets are computed and used in front axle cradle adjustment if applicable. The body angle is also used to eliminate the effect of wheel offsets from setback angle calculations.

Abstract: Signal compensation apparatus and method compensates for and removes errors due to error factors included in source signals x and y approximated by the sine function and cosine function, respectively, from a measurement apparatus such as a resolver or an encoder. Compensation is achieved by approximating the source signals x and y as expressions which include the terms due to the error factors, detecting the maximum values of x, x+y, etc., and determining coefficients corresponding to the error factors on the basis of the relationships between the maximum values and the coefficients, and removing the errors from the signals provided by the measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A maintenance management system includes a storage unit for storing maintenance items and maintenance intervals of the members of an assembly apparatus a time information generation unit which counts the time information concerning the time from a certain reference time or date and outputs the time information signal into a comparing unit that compares the time information signal with the maintenance intervals stored in the storage unit. When a corresponding maintenance item is due, a signal alerting this fact is output to the alerting unit. The value of the maintenance interval is input to the comparing unit, whereby detailed maintenance items corresponding to the maintenance interval are output to the alerting unit.

Abstract: An accurate estimate of the amplitude of a sparsely sampled sinusoidal signal is obtained by filtering the squares of the sampled values of the sinusoidal signal with an adjustable notch filter in order to remove a double-frequency component at twice the frequency of the sinusoidal signal. This amplitude estimate, for example, is used for automatic gain control of the amplitude of the sinusoidal signal. Preferably, the notch filter is a digital filter for computing an output signal (v) from successive samples (x.sub.n, x.sub.n-1, x.sub.n-2) of an input signal (x) according to: v.sub.n =x.sub.n -.beta.x.sub.n-1 +x.sub.n-2. The frequency control parameter (.beta.) is computed, so as to automatically track the frequency of the sinusoidal signal, by integrating a product of a derivative (x.sub.n-1 -x.sub.n-2) of the input signal (x) and a derivative (v.sub.n -v.sub.n-1) of the filtered signal (v).

Abstract: A control system for creating, modifying, initiating and controlling a manufacturing process is provided using computer on-screen icons as metaphors for actual process steps. The icons are selected on-screen from a library of icons, and are selectively inserted in, appended to, edited or deleted from the manufacturing process. Each icon represents a discrete process step including associated default-value physical parameters, which may be modified (edited) within predetermined boundary limits. Using the icons, the physical manufacturing process is symbolically assembled on-screen and saved to a storage medium from which it is accessed for use. During actual operation, the manufacturing process is displayed on-screen in an animated graphic representation, with real-time presentation of instantaneous parameter values. The control system also selectively provides on-screen trend graphs showing in strip-chart form the recent history of selected process variables.

Abstract: A device and method of measuring the speed of an object such as a foot is provided which can accurately determine lateral or other movements. The device employs optical sensor circuits which determine object impact on a pair of separate, spaced pads. Electrical circuitry includes a microcontroller which directs signals to an LCD display and a speaker for audio interpretation for the test subject.

Abstract: A switchboard having a mains power input circuit (A,N) and a plurality of output circuits (HOT WATER, OFF PEAK, OVEN, LIGHT, POWER2, POWER1) and including a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling a plurality of controllable circuit breakers (BREAKER1 to BREAKER6). The breakers are controllable by the CPU. Sensing means (J14, T2, T4) provide the CPU with instantaneous voltage and current magnitudes to enable the CPU to determine power consumed by the output circuits.

Abstract: A molecular design support system comprises a display device, a database for storing information about atoms forming a molecule in terms of atomic component information, and a processing unit for manipulating the atomic component information to assemble a molecular structure in terms of the atomic components. The atomic component information in turn comprises atomic data and bond data, wherein the atomic data comprises: identification data for identifying the atom forming the atomic component; the coordinate of the foregoing atom; the number of the orbitals associated to the atom; and the coordinate showing the position of free end of the orbital included in the atomic component.

Abstract: Vibration applied to a tablet is sensed by a sensor provided on the tablet and a time delay from generation of the vibration to the sensing thereof is measured, whereby distance from the vibration source to the sensor can be measured. If the vicinity of the leading edge of the envelope of registration is sensed when sensing the vibration, the effects of reflected waves from the periphery of the tablet are reduced. To this end, the envelope is differentiated to detect an inflection point. The peak gain frequency of the differentiating circuit is greater than the frequency of vibration generated by the vibration source. As a result, the phase of the output signal produced by the differentiating circuit is advanced by about .pi./2 with respect to the phase of the input signal, thereby making it possible to sense vibration more quickly.

Abstract: A method is for expanding the solute-identifying capabilities of an infrared (IR) sparging system. In IR-sparging, bubbles transfer solutes contained in a volume of liquid to a gas stream which is analyzed in a gas cell. FTIR spectrometry provides spectral absorbance analysis to identify and measure the solutes. By repeating the spectral scans at given time intervals, data is also obtained which is related to the depletion rate curves of the respective solutes. Using this depletion rate data to complement the spectral analysis data provides major benefits in successfully identifying the solutes.

Abstract: A method of diagnostic testing and taking appropriate corrective action on an electronically controlled throttle controller which includes scanning inputs from at least one of the throttle handles and a remote host. Communicating information from such throttle handles and/or remote host to a diagnostic testing device. Performing a check of such information fed to such diagnostic testing device to determine if the system is functioning properly and/or if corrective action is required. Taking appropriate corrective action if such corrective action is indicated. Calculating trainline outputs to be used when at least one of such appropriate corrective action is completed and/or it has been determined that such system is functioning properly. Communicating such trainline outputs calculated to such trainline. Communicating a feedback of such trainline outputs being communicated to a diagnostic testing device and reading such feedback of such trainline outputs.

Abstract: A circuit for causing an element to produce a substantially linear response to an input signal comprising an element for providing a response, a transistor oscillator circuit for providing an electrical output signal of variable amplitude to excite the element in response to the input signal, the transistor oscillator circuit normally causing the electrical output signal to vary non-linearly with respect to the input signal, and microprocessor means for correcting the non-linear relationship between the input signal and the electrical output signal to thereby cause the electrical output signal to vary substantially linearly with respect to the input signal when the input signal is applied to the microprocessor means.