Abstract: A blower arrangement for detachment of a metallized belt from a sheet and for creating a braking force on a sheet, which belt and sheet are situated between platens of a press in a machine for printing sheet elements which comprises a bar arrangement near the exit of the press in which is provided a series of nozzles having the form of flattened parallelpipeds, each of these nozzles being sealed by a translational mobile cylindrical valve member movable perpendicular to an air supply duct with the valve member having a communication passage. The plane of the jets coming from the nozzles is directed approximately horizontally between the metallized belt and the sheet.

Abstract: A transition signalling communication system suitable for use in a high speed data communication bus between a bus master and two or more peripheral slave devices provides data transfer rates up to twice the maximum clock frequency. The bus architecture permits transition signalling to be used with a plurality of slave devices with tri-state or open collector control signals. The bus master includes a first control signal, which initiates a data transfer request by the transition of the first control signal, and a second control signal which provides an indication whether the first control signal transition is valid. In response, the slave includes a third control signal which acknowledges the first control signal by the transition of the third control, and fourth control signal which provides an indication whether the third control signal transition is valid.

Abstract: This is a hand cursor for a digitizing system allowing easier positioning of the cursor at the points to be digitized. The cursor includes a quasi-sight window having a CCD panel for viewing a 2-dimensional area and an LCD panel for displaying it to the user. There is a vertical positioning line on the panel. A position signal generator is disposed in the cursor for continuously generating and outputting positional data from which a reference point position and the orientation of the positional line on the tablet surface can be dynamically determined. There is also position determination logic for inputting the electrical signal output from the CCD panel and the positional data from the positional generator and for determining a point on the tablet surface where the positional line crosses a line contained in a drawing disposed on the tablet surface over which the quasi-sight window is positioned as a point to digitize.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system monitors an abuser for compliance with a protective order. When a violation is detected, the system automatically gathers evidence, independent of any that may be provided by the victim of the abuse, to establish probable cause of such violation. The monitoring system includes a transmitter tag worn by the abuser that transmits a unique identifying (ID) signal, either periodically or when triggered. A receiving/monitoring device (RMD), or equivalent, is carried by or positioned near the victim, e.g., in the victim's house and/or place of employment, for receiving the ID signal. A central monitoring computer is located at a central monitoring location that is in selective telecommunicative contact with the RMD.

Abstract: A pager based information system (2) is used to transmit both conventional individual and group messages (using pager capcodes (76) for pager identification) and three types of unconventional multi-recipient (M-R) messages (using database ID's (68), multi-level group (MLG) ID's (78) and M-R group ID's (46)), all using the conventional POCSAG pager transmission format. Operation of the pager (6) is software controlled through the use of a microprocessor (8) and RAM (16); auxiliary chips are not needed because of the relatively slow transmission speeds. Authority to receive the M-R messages is provided at the time of manufacture (electronic serial number (ESN) (74)) or via broadcast (database ID's, MLG ID's and group IDs). Database messages are stored in pager RAM in a hierarchical or tree structure.

Abstract: A master-slave data transmission system employs a flexible single-wire bus and where any master unit can send data to or read data from any slave at a single time. Data transfer is accomplished by means of a flexible message format having a variable-length address section and a variable-length data section, with the beginning and end of the individual message sections being defined by labels, and a fixed bit clock being transmitted for a given interval before and/or after the message. During multiple master operation, a priority control arrangement prevents two or more masters from accessing the single-wire bus at the same time.

Abstract: A paging device for receiving information and including a test mode for determining the receiving characteristics of the device and a scan mode for scanning a frequency range within which the information exists in determining the frequency of the information. A receiver within the device for receiving information at a receiving frequency can be set at different receiving frequencies. A control unit sets the receiving frequency during the test mode to a predefined test frequency. The predefined test frequency is determined by the control unit without the device entering the scan mode.

Abstract: A remote control system is employed with a view to realization of automated/unattended control in supervisory control of power equipment, transportion/traffic equipment, building equipment, home equipment, and the like. This remote control system includes a priority rank determination unit and a control unit on the controlled side where a control signal for controlling the operation of a plurality of electric equipment is inputted through a communication system from the control side. The priority rank determination unit determines an operating priority rank of respective electric equipments on the basis of respective power dissipations of the plurality of electric equipments. The control unit operates respective electric equipments on the basis of the operating priority rank thus determined. By controlling the operation of the electric equipment in this way, an accident of interruption of the operation of the entire system resulting from the operation of a specific electric equipment is prevented.

Abstract: A joystick and associated circuit including a joystick handle and angularly oriented opposed pairs of first and second switches positioned apart from each other on respective axes, the switches being selectively actuatable by movements of the handle, and a resistive path connected to each pair of opposed switches between an operating voltage source and an output terminal, each resistive path providing selected resistance to the respective output terminal which is representative of corresponding movements of the handle, each resistive path including resistive elements connected between the operating voltage source and the respective output terminal, activation of the switches causing the resistance of the respective resistive path to be altered to provide different resistive values to the output terminal.

Abstract: An electric locker apparatus to be installed at a public space, such as entrance hall of a condominium, includes a plurality of locker boxes of at least one type, each having a door with an electric lock device, and a sensor for detecting whether the relevant locker box is occupied by an article or empty. An improved locker box designating device serves to automatically designate an empty locker box of a desired type such that any one of the locker boxes of a same type, after it has been once used, can be designated only after subsequent one-round use of all remaining locker boxes of the same type. The lock device of the designated locker box is actuated to unlock the door, for allowing an article to be accommodated in the locker box. All the locker boxes of a same type are thus put into use with as uniform a frequency as possible.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a displaceable control member such as an aircraft pilot's "joystick" includes an array of pressure transducers (20) in contact with a pressure plate (22) which in turn is in pivotal connection with the control member (10) operated by the pilot. Adjustable springs (26) bias the pressure plate (22) towards the transducers (20). Pivotal movement of the control member (10) tends to compress the springs (26) and to cause the transducers (20) to generate output signals representative of differential pressure. The signals are then processed by circuitry (34) to provide inputs to flight control computers.

Abstract: An adapter device for use with a data-input-type keyboard comprises a housing defining a chamber receiving the keyboard. An upper housing panel is provided with a first opening at least coextensive with all keys on said keyboard. A plate is hingedly secured to the upper panel so that the plate covers the first opening in an access restriction or limited use position of the plate. The plate is provided with an opening at least coextensive with a predetermined set of keys, fewer than all of the keys of the keyboard. The device further comprises an alignment component for locating the housing relative to the keyboard so that the keyboard occupies a predetermined position relative to the housing and so that the second predetermined set of keys is aligned with the opening.

Abstract: A circuit to find the first bit 0 or 1 in an m-bit input word from a start bit onwards, the positions of these bits being defined by an n-bit code. It includes a crosspoint matrix of m (4) rows and n (2) columns, each crosspoint including a change-over contact (ABC), with a make contact (AB) and a break contact (AC), and another make contact (AD). The rows of change-over contacts (ABC) are controlled by respective bits of the m-bit word and the break contacts (AC) of the change-over contacts (ABC) of each row are coupled to respective bits of the n-bit code identifying the bit of the m-bit word respectively controlling these break contacts. Furthermore, the make contacts (AB) of the change-over contacts (ABC) of a same column are connected in a closed loop, while the other make contacts (AD) of a same column are connected in a parallel to a same output terminal (IA, IB), the rows of these other make contacts being controlled by a single-row selection circuit (TR).

Abstract: A position sensor (25) includes both a position potentiometer (90) and a turns count potentiometer (92). The position potentiometer (90) includes a pair of wipers (12 and 14) positioned on a rotor (10) which each contact both a resistive track (46) and one of two different commutator tracks (48 and 50) on element (26). The sensed percentage of total voltage output, which is a function of the position the wiper (12 or 14) contacts the resistive track (46), corresponds to the angular position between 0.degree. and 360.degree. of the shaft on which the position sensor (25) is mounted. The turns count potentiometer (92) comprises a turns count rotor (66) which is incrementally advanced via a cog (18) on rotor (10) using a gear or geneva type mechanism. The turns count rotor (66) includes a wiper (64) which either contacts both a resistive track (150) and commutator track (152) or contacts one of a plurality of switch pads (154).

Abstract: A touch sensor array system includes a row and column array of individual sensing elements each of which has a bistable circuit arranged to adopt one of the other of its two stable state in dependence upon whether or not a touch input, by e.g. a stylus or finger, exists at the sensing element location. The rows of sensing elements are periodically reset in sequence by a scanning address circuit and the states of their bistable circuits are determined at regular intervals related to resetting by a detection circuit using active matrix addressing of the sensing elements. Each sensing element includes a switching device. The array of sensing elements is fabricated using thin film, e.g. TFT, technology so that high resolution is possible. The system can be used as an overlay to a display device, e.g. a matrix liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A self-distributed transmission line failure restoring system includes three nodes or more arbitrarily interconnected by bidirectional transmission lines. Each of the nodes includes an alternate route search information transmitting unit, an alternate route connection information transmitting unit, a check information transmitting unit, and a check information receiving unit. The alternate route search information transmitting unit transmits alternate route search information to all of the connected transmission lines. The alternate route connection information transmitting unit forms alternate route connection information having a node trace and transmitting the information to a connection destination node. The check information transmitting unit receives the alternate route connection information to set an alternate route and transmitting check information having a node trace to a connection source node through the set alternate route.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensing element, backed by a reflector driven at the same voltage as and in phase with the sensor, is used to reflect the field lines away from a grounded robot arm towards an intruding object, thus dramatically increasing the sensor's range and sensitivity.

Abstract: A plurality of elongated flexible strips are provided including opposite longitudinal margins. One set of corresponding margins of the strips are secured together in registered superposed relation and to the rear surface of a computer keyboard and an equal number of function key templates or indentity strips are secured to the other set of corresponding margins of flexible strips in a similar manner by adhesive coatings. The flexible strips support the function key templates or identity strips for swinging movement between superposed positions closely juxtaposed with the function keys of the computer keyboard and out of the way positions disposed behind the rear surface of the computer keyboard.