Abstract: Computerized tomographic (CT) apparatus provides data for cross-sectional slices in the body of a patient. In certain circumstances it is desirable to view the data as shadowgrams, that is conventional X-ray pictures giving sums of absorption as viewed in a selected direction. This invention provides shadowgram data from a plurality of CT pictures by effecting coordinate transformation and summation along appropriate lines. It is applicable to data for cross-sectional slices whether radiographic or otherwise.

Abstract: A voice signal is transmitted digitally at reduced bit rate by use of data compression. The original frequency components of a telephone band width of the voice signal sampled at 8 KHz and quantized with 12 bits are transformed into three parameters: SIGNAL data representing adaptive quantization for lower frequency (300-800 Hz) sub-bands; COEF data representing pre-emphasized parcor type coefficients for the higher frequency (800-3000 Hz) band; and, ENERGY data representing higher frequency short term energy level. The three parameters are multiplexed for transmission in binary-code form, thereby representing a recoding of the original binary-coded voice signals.

Abstract: A completely self-contained, battery operated, portable voice system for the verbally handicapped which is sufficiently compact to be hand held. The system contains a preestablished vocabulary of words, phonemes, and phrases which are accessible by the non-verbal via a keyboard. The desired message is then phonetically spoken by a speech synthesizer contained in the unit upon the depression of a TALK key. For verbally handicapped persons with minimal motor capabilities, the present invention is adapted to be operable in a scrolling scanning or "scrolling" mode wherein the numerical display is automatically rotated in sequence and the selections entered by activating a sensor switch with a single body function to stop the display at the desired number.

Abstract: A reverberation sound producing apparatus includes a nonuniformly tapped delay line, a summing circuit applying an audio signal to the input of the tapped delay line and a feedback path coupling the output taps of the delay line back to its input through the summing circuit. A separate output path couples the reverberation signal from the feedback path to an output amplifier and speaker system. The feedback path is adjusted for minimizing loop gain and the effect of ripple in the frequency response of the delay line while the output path is adjusted for providing a smoothly decaying reverberation signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing and synthesizing speech information in which a predetermined vocabulary is spoken into a microphone, the resulting electrical signals are differentiated with respect to time, digitized, and the digitized waveform is appropriately expanded or contracted by linear interpolation so that the pitch periods of all such waveforms have a uniform number of digitizations and the amplitudes are normalized with respect to a reference signal. These "standardized" speech information digital signals are then compressed in the computer by subjectively removing and discarding redundant speech information such as redundant pitch periods, portions of pitch periods, redundant phonemes and portions of phonemes, redundant amplitude information (delta modulation) and phase informaton (Fourier transformation). The compression techniques are selectively applied to certain of the speech information signals by listening to the reproduced, compressed information.

Abstract: A synthetic-speech calculator includes a keyboard consisting of digit keys and function keys and, if desired, or more mode selectors, a desired number of registers for storing numerical information entered by the depression of selected ones of the digit keys, a read-only-memory for storing a large number of digital codes as sound quantizing information, counter means for specifying the address of the memory so as to take a specific digital code out of the memory, a digital-to-analogue converter for converting the specific digital code taken out of the memory into an audible sound signal, and a loud speaker driven by the audible sound signal and producing an audible sound. There are further provided means for producing audible sounds indicative of not only numerical information but also its associated conditional information having a particular meaning with respect to that numerical information, for example, position information, index information, tabulation information, etc.

Abstract: An analog sound signal the time axis of which is compressed is sampled responsive to a write clock signal and the sampled output is stored in an analog shift register having a given capacity, whereupon the stored signal is read out from the analog shift register responsive to a read clock signal the frequency of which is smaller than that of the write clock signal. The above described operation is alternately repeated, whereby the output signal read out from the analog shift register is compiled for sound synthesization. The synthesizing junction of the sound signal is controlled by a microcomputer. The microcomputer is adapted to evaluate the similarity of the data concerning the waveform at the trailing end portion of a preceding sound element stored in the random-access memory and the data concerning the waveform at the leading end portion of the succeeding sound element stored in the random-access memory.

Abstract: A system for utilizing audio frequency wiring circuits at drive-in theaters to transmit radio frequency signals to patron automobile radio receivers with increased efficiency and a reduction in radiation of the radio frequency signals. The system employs impedance matching networks, coupling networks and termination networks to enable the audio frequency wiring circuits to operate as transmission lines.

Abstract: An electric generator with winding and rotor design so that it powers and multiplexes several sensor inputs during rotor rotation. The rotor may be rotated by any means such as fluid (gas or liquid) or electric motors.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement of the intraplant communication system in U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,890. It comprises one base unit composed of a handset amplifier and speaker amplifier, each with its own integral power supply and each located on a common printed circuit board. This unit also features a disconnect device, formerly called a hook switch, which includes a radio frequency proximity detector which has no moving parts.

Abstract: This digital telephone conference system provides improved cancellation of reflective signals which cause echo-singing problems, such as caused by hydrid mismatches, for any number of telephone sets. Each telephone set is sequentially sampled for time sharing, and alternate samples are given opposite polarity signs before being summed, thereby making approximately half of the signals of opposite phase, for any number of telephone sets, for effective cancellation. Also, each member of the conference receives a sum signal of all telephone sets except his own.

Abstract: A sensor is compensated through the use of a closed loop comprising a digital processor, a digital-to-analog converter and a comparator having inputs coupled to the converter and the sensor and an output fed back to the digital processor. During calibration of the sensor, a signal from the sensor is tracked by the digital processor and at least one of the values characteristic of the sensor signal is stored in the digital processor. The stored value is used as or in the computation of a reference by the digital processor which is compared with the sensor signal during operation of the sensor to appropriately compensate the sensor for gain, offset, drift or degradation in the quality of the sensor signal.

Abstract: A device for aiding persons having a speech handicap, comprising a first transducer capable of picking up and transforming into an electrical signal the vibrations emitted by an element such as one of the vocal chords of the phonation mechanism of the person. In a first embodiment of the invention, the signal is treated by an electronic circuit comprising an amplifier which feeds a second transducer acting on another element such as the other vocal chord of the phonation mechanism so as to facilitate or reinforce the formation of sounds produced by said mechanism; in a second embodiment of the invention, the amplifier is followed by a rectifier feeding the second transducer which produces a mechanical action, like tension, in another element such as a muscle of the phonation mechanism in order to help close the glottis of the handicapped person.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring and recording environmental conditions in a deep bore hole using a down hole gauge including pressure and temperature sensors and data processing elements is disclosed. A pressure transducer such as a Bourdon tube is provided for measuring the down hole pressure. An encoder coupled to the pressure transducer produces a plurality of data bits defining a coded word representative of the down hole pressure. A temperature transducer is also provided for measuring the down hole temperature. An oscillator is coupled to the temperature transducer for providing a timing signal having a frequency which is proportional to the down hole temperature. Serial shift registers are provided for recording data bits in separate groups of bits defining data words which are representative of the down hole pressure and temperature conditions.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus for automatically zeroing or nulling an analog offset voltage by using multiple bit successive approximation to generate an analog zeroing voltage of equal magnitude and opposite polarity to that of the offset voltage, and then summing the zeroing voltage with the offset voltage.

Abstract: Delay devices including CCD delay lines clocked and sampled to simulate a multitap delay line with a weighter, correlator and integrater connected to the delay line by switches which are operated to time share the weighter and correlator with each output of the delay line.

Abstract: A converter circuit employs a capacitor coupled through a selector switch to an analog voltage so that the capacitor is charged to the analog level. When a conversion is commanded, the capacitor is disconnected from the analog voltage and discharged through a constant current load. This results in a linear voltage ramp. A comparator senses the capacitor voltage and compares it to a reference level that is slightly above ground. Upon starting the ramp an increment of voltage slightly larger than the reference is applied in series with the capacitor. When the ramp drops below the reference level the comparator output is used to terminate the conversion interval. Thus, the conversion interval is directly and linearly proportional to the magnitude of the analog voltage. If desired, the conversion interval can be used to operate a counter to provide a conventional digital readout.

Abstract: To produce a signal simulating the characteristics of the average human voice, a basic periodic waveform with generally sinusoidal sections separated by level sections is passed through a first filter for substantially equalizing its frequency components and is then shaped in a second filter whose transfer function approximates that of the vocal tract in a frequency band of 0 to 4 kHz. The basic waveform fed to the first filter may be modulated in amplitude and/or recurrence period by a pseudorandom signal from an ancillary generator.

Abstract: A self-contained sound masking package including a housing having an interior forming a loudspeaker enclosure in the bottom of which is disposed an electric circuit arranged to be connected to an associated source of electrical power for producing a voltage having a predetermined frequency range within the audible spectrum and with the frequencies at predetermined relative decibel levels, the voltage being applied to a transducer such as a loudspeaker having a coil supported in the housing interior adjacent the top of the housing for introducing an audible sound of the predetermined frequency range and decibel levels into the area surrounding the housing, together with means for connecting a remote signal source to the circuit to provide a supplementary audible output from the loudspeaker into the area and the electric circuit being preferably in the form of a printed circuit board and having filter means which may be selectively activated to provide an audible output from the loudspeaker throughout at least

Abstract: To improve the speech quality at lower bit rates within a digital communication system in which the coefficients of a frequency transform (e.g. discrete cosine transform) are adaptively encoded with adaptive quantization and adaptive bit-assignment, the adaptation is controlled by a short-term spectral estimate signal formed by combining the formant spectrum and the pitch excitation spectrum of the coefficient signals.