Abstract: A self-framing serial trigger within an oscilloscope or specialized analyzer construes an absence of the data's clock signal for at least a selected length of time as implying the occurrence of a framing signal. This frees the serial trigger from otherwise needing an externally supplied framing signal. The serial trigger may include a shift register containing the most recent N-bits of the data, which is then bit-wise compared to the trigger pattern (stored in a register). This level of comparison may provide for don't care bits in the trigger pattern. The results of this bit-wise comparison are then inspected for a certain uniformity indicating that the trigger pattern has been matched. An additional circuit may count clock signals since the last implied framing pulse. If this additional count has not yet reached M (or counted down from M to zero) the match is premature, and no trigger signal is generated.

Abstract: A technique for customizing mailed purchase incentives for selected consumer households, based on a detailed purchasing history of the consumers. Purchase transactions of many consumers, generally in different stores, are accumulated in a purchase history database over a long period of time and then used to generate customized incentive offers for selected consumers. For a selected product category, usually related to a promotional theme, the purchase history database is scanned to select consumers who have made purchases in the same product area as the selected product category. Then each selected consumer's purchase transactions are analyzed to determine a profile for the consumer, such as loyal to the promoted brand, loyal to a competitive brand, or new to the selected product category, although a purchaser of related products. The consumer profile is then used to customize a purchase incentive package generated for each consumer household.

Abstract: Disclosed is a relational database system for storing biomolecular sequence information in a manner that allows sequences to be catalogued and searched according to one or more protein function hierarchies. The hierarchies allow searches for sequences based upon a protein's biological function or molecular function. Also disclosed is a mechanism for automatically grouping new sequences into protein function hierarchies. This mechanism uses descriptive information obtained from "external hits" which are matches of stored sequences against gene sequences stored in an external database such as GenBank. The descriptive information provided with the external database is evaluated according to a specific algorithm and used to automatically group the external hits (or the sequences associated with the hits) in the categories.

Abstract: An electronic rating broker is provided. The rating broker includes an input mechanism for obtaining an implicit measure concerning items presented to a user. A processor is operatively coupled to the input mechanism and an output device to cooperatively perform several functions. These functions include generating an implicit rating as a function of the implicit measure using a receiver operating curve (ROC). The output device is provided the implicit rating by the processor. In addition, a method is provided for operating an electronic rating broker on a computer system in order to provide an implicit rating generated with an ROC. Also, a storage device readable by a computer system for implementing this method is provided.

Abstract: A detection signal from a multi-wavelength detector provided in a liquid chromatograph is stored in a data storage part, and a chromatogram is formed from the stored data with respect to a specific wavelength, to detect a peak from the chromatogram. The spectrum at a top of the peak to be identified or a known spectrum of a component to be identified is used as a reference spectrum, to calculate the degree of coincidence between the spectrum at each position of the chromatogram peak and the reference spectrum as fraction purity at each position of the chromatogram peak. The calculated fraction purity values are classified in colors, for example, and displayed on a display part. Thus, it is possible to readily decide whether the measured peak consists of a single component or at least two components, and which time range consists of a single component.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of a patronage incentive system in which a monetary award is made to a customer's retirement account as incentive for the customer to participate in a transaction with the sponsor for the sponsor's goods or services. The system includes a means for identifying the customer, a means for inputting the identification information and other information about the transaction into a computer data storage, a computer data processing device which uses a software program along with the transactional information to calculate an incentive award amount a means for transferring the monetary funds equal to the incentive award amount from an incentive award pool to the customer's retirement account, and a means of reporting the incentive award amount to the customer and to the sponsor.

Abstract: A system for directing air flow in a fume hood having a sash includes a mechanism for producing an output control signal corresponding to a desired flow of air through the sash of the fume hood. The producing mechanism includes a CPU which actively produces the output control signal and is disposed in fluid communication with the fume hood. The system also includes a mechanism for controlling air flow through the sash of the fume hood corresponding to the output control signal. The controlling mechanism is connected to the producing mechanism to receive the output control signal and includes a CPU which actively produces a drive signal for operating the controlling mechanism corresponding to the output control signal. A corresponding method for controlling the air flow in a fume hood is also provided.

Abstract: An advanced software package for cost accounting and analysis, management reporting, performance assessment and decision support tool is described. The IN$ITE.TM. software package collects, organizes, manages and consolidates financial data and permits the standardized evaluation and comparison of different educational institutions. The software package implements the Finance Analysis Model For Education as a relational database for the efficient and cost-effective management of educational institutions.Financial data is organized into three dimensions: Functions, Programs and Locations. IN$ITE has five Functions which are subdivided into 15 Subfunctions and further divided into 32 Detail Functions, each of which provides greater clarity of fund use. The Program Dimension of IN$ITE permits the identification and determination of the costs of various special programs within the school system.

Abstract: An analyzing method of a liquid chromatograph system which includes a plurality of chromatograph units each made up of a number of devices, obtains an analysis result by processing measurement data from chromatograph units using a data processor. System configurations are defined along with analysis parameters corresponding to the system configurations and stored in a main storage provided in the data processor. The stored analysis parameters are sent to chromatograph units as are requests to execute a measurement operations and, in the case of an error, requests to return peculiar information about each device. Each device of the chromatograph unit executes a measurement operation in response to a measurement operation request from the main controller and sends measurement data to the main controller for storage in the main storage in association with the analysis parameters.

Abstract: A position signal generating circuit which is operated by a position controller for generating first and second determining signals, a rotation direction selection signal and an enable signal, the circuit including: a pulse generator for generating a basic pulse; a gate circuit for logic-operating the basic pulse from the pulse generator and the first and second mode determining signals from the position controller to output signals indicating the logic-operated results; and a rotation direction determining unit for combining the signals output from the gate circuit according to the rotation direction selection signal from the position controller to generate a position control signal. A desired position control signal can be generated by using simplified hardware and software without an additional selection switch.

Abstract: A power plant water chemistry analysis apparatus and method relies upon water chemistry sensors to obtain power plant water chemistry data characterizing the chemical activity of a power plant water system. An analytical model processor is used to generate model predictions for the power plant water system. A statistical data fitting processor selects screened data from the power plant water chemistry data that corresponds to the model predictions. The screened data is processed by an artificial intelligence processor to derive power plant water chemistry diagnostic information. The artificial intelligence processor includes an expert system, rule base, plant water chemistry system simulator, and pattern recognition module.

Abstract: The sensing circuit is used in an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) transmission system to detect a wave signal with a predetermined shape in an input signal (IN1/IN2) transmitted over the system and applied to an input terminal (IN1/IN2) of the sensing circuit. It includes two branches with a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS1/CDS2), a counter circuit (C1/C2) and a comparator circuit (CMP1/CMP2) coupled in series. An input (IN1/IN2) of the correlated double sampling circuit of each branch is coupled to the input of the sensing circuit and an output of the comparator circuits is coupled to an output terminal (OUT) of the sensing circuit via an OR-ing circuit. The correlated double sampling circuits are adapted to provide a sampled signal and the counter circuits count the number of pulses of the sampled signals.

Abstract: A frequency analyzing method according to the invention is a method of analyzing frequency components of an original signal. The method has: a spectrum detecting step of detecting, from the original signal, energy levels of components of a predetermined number of orthogonal function waves which have waveforms each having same start position and end position in a predetermined time window and in which the number of occurrences of periods in the predetermined time window or frequencies are different from each other; and an orthogonal function wave changing step of changing at least one of the start position and the end position within the predetermined time window after completion of the spectrum detecting step, wherein the spectrum detecting step and the orthogonal function wave changing step are alternately repeated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel dispenser system capable of receiving a signal from a vehicle transponder. Upon receiving the transponder's signal, the dispenser determines the proximity of the vehicle relative to the dispenser, and preferably, a particular fueling position associated with that dispenser. Proximity is determined by measuring one or more characteristics of the signal received at an antenna associated with the dispenser. Generally, the strength or magnitude of the signal received at the antenna is the characteristic used to determine vehicle proximity. Multiple directionally sensitive antennas are used to correlate a vehicle at a unique fueling position. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the transponder indicative of the presence of an ORVR system on the vehicle. Depending on the sophistication of the communication link between the transponder and dispenser, the dispenser will control its vapor recovery system accordingly.

Abstract: A node having an on-board microprocessor and circuits to perform a particular function in an analytic instrument system having a CANBUS and using distributed logic to control the various analysis functions, including data acquisition, system control, and data transition. The various node circuits and functions include generating a signal to control a motor by pulse width modulation and feedback, control of temperature for sample and reagent reactions (incubations), monitoring the status of instrument control panel switches and visual indicators, voltage sources, test sample location, processing calorimeter measurements, and the like. Each node includes a CAN interface and a reset circuit, which is responsive to the system controller for performing the specific node function and responding to controller commands. The reset circuit allows for reinitializing the node microcontroller on, e.g., system startup, or on demand from the system controller or any other node on the CANBUS.

Abstract: An automated storage system comprising a plurality of self-storage, facilities which are collectively networked to a central command center, wherein a customer may communicate with the central command center via an interactive kiosk located at each of the storage facilities or auxiliary access means, such as the Internet, to undertake various self-storage related transactions without the need for an attendant.

Abstract: Improvements in computer controlled material processing are disclosed including an apparatus and method in which the centrifugation of a liquid mixture in order to separate out components of the mixture with different sedimentation rates is adaptively controlled by monitoring the sedimentation of detectable particles and controlling the centrifugation so as to effect a desired localization of the detectable particles. Such adaptive control may be performed with a continuous flow centrifugal separator or a batch-type centrifuge. The detectable particles may be test particles having a sedimentation constant approximately equal to a component of interest in the mixture whose localization is desired.

Abstract: The method of planning a production schedule of the present invention has a production order preparing unit which, in response to an order, the completed product stock is allocated to the previous production schedule planned before an order change, and which prepares a production order. The production schedule which is previously planned is allocated to the production order which has been subjected to allocation of the completed product stock to the order, in accordance with information such as the product identification, the quantity, and the delivery time. The allocated portion of the previous production schedule is used as it is in the current production schedule.

Abstract: An efficient vibration data collection, analysis, and storage system automates the analysis of time waveform data and optimizes use of available memory and minimizes data collection time by parameterizing the time domain vibration waveform produced by a vibration transducer attached to a machine. Various parameters are calculated from the time domain waveform and compared to predetermined thresholds or other criteria representative of possible anomalous conditions within the monitored machine. When one or more anomaly criteria are met, an alarm is generated and the system automatically collects, or stores vibration data, which may include both the time waveform and frequency spectrum. Alternatively, the system may be programmed to conduct further analysis of the vibration data during an alarm condition prior to data storage. Preferably, time waveform data is stored only for machines that are in alarm, and the calculated parameters are stored for each machine regardless of the machine's condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting irregularities in a ferrous pipe includes a magnetizing coil for inducing a magnetic field in the ferrous pipe. Inspection sensors measure changes in the induced magnetic field and produce signals representative of those changes. An analog-to-digital converter digitizes the measured signals representing the changes in the induced magnetic field. A processor compares the signals to a threshold value, and, when a signal exceeds the threshold value, the processor stops the inspection process to locate an irregularity in the ferrous pipe. The processor further processes the signals according to frequency to classify the signals by type of irregularity in the ferrous pipe. A screen and/or printer displays the frequency processed signals according to type of irregularity in the ferrous pipe.