Abstract: A phase analog encoding system with compensation for the phase shift error inherent in a resolver position transducer. The inherent phase shift error in a resolver position transducer is compensated independent of a resolver position in a time multiplexed fashion by periodically applying a known reference signal to the resolver and measuring the electrical phase shift across only the resolver. The newly measured value of the inherent electrical phase shift is compared with the last measured value of the inherent electrical phase shift and any deviation is calculated. This deviation is used to determine the appropriate compensation value for the inherent electrical phase shift. The compensation value is subtracted from the resolver phase shift during normal operation resulting in an output signal which is independent of the inherent electrical phase shift error in the resolver position transducer. Additionally, compensation for encoding errors is developed in a calibration mode.

Abstract: A remote control system for window blinds including a control unit provided for each of a plurality of blinds which are opened and closed freely, each blind further including rotatable slats. The control unit is provided with a signal receiver, and through the use of a transmitter, which is provided separately, the control unit controls the individual blind as well as slats thereof, and a plurality of control units can be successively actuated so that two or more blinds and the slats thereof can be controlled at the same time from a distance. By means of this remote control system, a centralized control of the blinds can be performed without requiring a special control board, and erroneous operation can be avoided as blind operation is done after the blind number is designated. When the blind operation is completed, the system is automatically reset for the next operation command.

Abstract: A door lock control system including keys each having a memory storing information of the key number and the key owner's face as video data. When the key is inserted into the door lock, the face image is reproduced on a CRT according to the face information stored in the key. A TV camera also takes the face image of the key handling person for displaying same on another CRT so that one can judge, by comparison of the face images on CRT, whether the person is the same as the key owner. The system further includes a central storage unit in which a portion of the video data in each key is stored as a collation word. Upon insertion of the key into the door lock, the collation word is read out according to the information of the key number stored in the key. The read out word is compared with the portion of the video data stored in the key to check whether the key is one of those owned by the predetermined key owners.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for communications systems provide priority to packets entering a communications node from a network to enable transmission of these packets in an orderly and efficient fashion. By defining a through-traffic preemptive priority mode, local packets are held in abeyance until packets which are already on the network and detected at the communications node have been routed through the node. Then the local packets are allowed to be transmitted from the node. And by defining a through-traffic priority mode, the local packet once started is completely transmitted before the network packets entering the communications node are allowed to continue through the system.

Abstract: A radio apparatus, particularly a personal transceiver, includes a manual keypad for keying numerical data, read and write function keys, and a data processor. The processor is programmed to store keyed numerical data representing part of a multi-digit destination code into a storage location of a read-write memory in response to operation of the write function key and store keyed numerical data representing the address of the storage location. The stored part-destination code data are retrieved in response to successive operation of the read function key and the keyed keying numerical data representing the address of the storage location. In response to subsequent operation of the keypad keying numerical data representing an additional digit, the latter is appended to the part-destination code read from the memory to complete a full destination code.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for effecting transmission over a generally cyclic communication system comprising numerous networks interconnected by gateway pairs. Each gateway of each pair implements a store-and-forward protocol whereby each gateway forwards message packets propagated over its associated network except for any packets that are destined for a device which has previously appeared in the sending address of another packet. In order to utilize this protocol as a basis for transmission, the system is covered with a set of spanning trees that satisfy capacity and reliability requirement. Each spanning tree is assigned a unique identifier and each packet traversing the system is assigned to and conveys the specified spanning tree. Each gateway passes the packet to determine the assigned spanning tree and forwards the packet accordingly. To mitigate system flooding by a newly connected device, the protocol may also incorporate a delay to allow the gateways to learn the location of the new device.

Abstract: A protocol for a switching system that establishes multiple parallel paths between users through multiple autonomous switching planes by having a user desiring connection to issue connection requests to each of the switching planes. According to the invention, the user monitors the number of connections that have been successfully completed and if only some of the connections have been completed, because of conflicting requests, it follows a conflict protocol to issue retry requests to the planes on which the connection request was unsuccessful. Each switching plane follows the conflict protocol to respond to the retry request by disconnecting existing connections and completing at most one retried connection request.

Abstract: A pull station having a housing of unitary construction with integral cover and base portions, the cover portion having a handle so that the cover portion can be pulled away from the base portion when a signal, such as an alarm signal, is to be generated, a break glass holder provided on one of the portions for receiving a glass structure to be broken when the cover portion is pulled away from the base portion, a glass breaker provided on the other of the portions, the glass breaker having a camming surface to ride over the glass structure when the portions are closed and having a breaking surface for breaking the glass structure when the cover portion is pulled away from the base portion, and a signal generator for generating a signal when the cover portion is pulled.

Abstract: Gas sensors 1 are mounted on respective explosion proof housings 2 that contain microprocessor circuitry 11 for operating signals from the sensors. Signals from the circuitry 11 are transmitted along a digital highway 4 to a central control unit. The sensors may be located at remote locations in an industrial process plant or for example along the roof of a tunnel. A non-contact hand held unit 12 is provided for individually setting operating parameters of the circuitry 11, to enable factors such as zero set, span and linearity to be set for the sensors individually. A two way wireless communication link is provided between the unit 12 and a transducer 15 on the housing 1, so that the current value of the circuit operating parameters can be displayed on a display 18 on the hand held unit.

Abstract: A Remote Subsystem for monitoring a large number of parameters relating to operating equipment at a remote site is disclosed. A monitoring system having a plurality of local service offices each reporting to a central office and each having a plurality of remote subsystems at remote sites reporting to it is also disclosed. Each remote subsystem reports only a first alarm condition detected for a particular unit of equipment to its local office and reports the unit back in a normal operating condition only after all detected alarm conditions have returned to a non alarm status. In this way, the local and central offices are not inundated with information of little value. Each remote subsystem also monitors conditions that are indicative of impending alarm conditions in order to alert local and central service offices of developing problems in the field. Similarly, each remote system monitors and accumulates miscellaneous data useful for a variety of monitoring purposes.

Abstract: A security locking system includes a plurality of compartments each having a door giving access thereto and a lock for locking each such door; a console for controlling operation of the locks to permit access to the compartments, wherein the console includes a circuit for accepting a plurality of selected multiple digit codes, each of which codes electronically opens an individual lock associated with that particular selected code; and an additional circuit associated with each lock for allowing all of the locks to be connected by common wiring to the console.

Abstract: To provide a remote control by means of coded signals, a portable transmitter case (3) is used comprising, on the one hand, a keyboard (5) with keys (6) for directly forming the coded signal on said case and, on the other hand, means for recording this coded signal, for storing it in the memory for a time t.sub.o at the end of which it is automatically erased, as well as a control button (10) ensuring the instantaneous transmission of the signal thus previously stored in the memory.

Abstract: An identification system comprises an interrogator which transmits an interrogation signal to a plurality of transponders, each of which is arranged automatically to reply by means of a first coded identification signal stored in the transponder and modulated onto a carrier wave transmitted by the transponder. The interrogator receives and checks the reply signal. In the event of there being a plurality of transponders within range and broadcasting reply signals simultaneously, the interrogator receives corrupted reply signals. The interrogator therefore retransmits the reply signals to the transponders and each transponder checks the retransmitted reply signal with its first coded identification signal. In the event of correspondence the transponder discontinues transmission and in the event of non-correspondence the transponder continues transmission.

Abstract: Subscriber terminals serviced by a plurality of remotely located two-way addressable cable television systems are polled using polling command signals addressed to the different terminals from a polling center. The polling command signals are sent to the subscriber terminals via their associated headends. Responses from the polled subscriber terminals are successively received at the polling center. The round trip signal propagation times required to communicate the polling command and response signals to and from each of the headends is equalized so that the response from the polled subscriber terminals are received in the same order in which the terminals are addressed by the polling command signals. A uniform delay is inserted after each successive polling command signal to allow for variations in the signal propagation times between the headends and individual subscriber terminals coupled thereto.

Abstract: A remote-control lock system has a transmitter that can emit any of a set formed of a multiplicity of differently coded signals, a receiver that can be set to respond to any of the signals, and a lock operable by the receiver when it receives a signal it is set to. The set of signals the transmitter can emit includes a subset formed by a succession of different main signals and another subset formed by a succession of different synchronization signals. The transmitter is initially set to emit on normal actuation a predetermined one of the main signals and on special actuation a predetermined one of the synchronization signals and the receiver is set to respond only to the predetermined one main signal and to the predetermined synchronization signal to operate the lock.

Abstract: A local area network transceiver (10) which includes a transmitter section (20) for providing a data signal and a pilot tone signal which are combined as a transmit signal for transmission on a local area network data bus (11). The transceiver further includes a receiver section (30) which receives signals on the data bus (11) and includes circuitry for filtering the received signal into a received data signal and a received pilot tone signal (23,25,27). Comparison circuitry (29,31,33) is responsive to the transmit pilot tone signal and the received pilot tone signal, and produces an output indicative of whether the received pilot originated from the transmit pilot tone. Logic circuitry (35,37,39,41,43) is responsive to the comparison output to provide outputs indicative of whether transmission collision has occurred or whether activity is present on the data bus.

Abstract: A logic circuit is provided in a multifunction selective call receiver operating in a time sequential zone batched message communication system to prevent repeated alerts of the same message. A single lockout timer is reset by the first detection of a message function signal, and further alerts for that function are disabled for a time interval which may be extended by additional message function detects corresponding to other functions.

Abstract: A circuit for change-over of electric signal set points applied as control inputs to a fluid control valve for controlling the pressure or flow rate of a fluid. A priority circuit including a priority encoder or priority chain is provided in an input section for set point select and change-over instruction signals from an external sequential controller. When two or more of the instruction signals are applied simultaneously, only the highest priority instruction is received to select the desired set point and the other instructions are ignored.

Abstract: A medicien cabinet has a housing and a door. The door is provided with an electrically operated lock which is operable by using the push keys. The opening code for the lock is initially set by inserting four keys into four holes in a four by ten array of holes provided in the casing on the inside of the door. The circuits for the code pre-setting and code inputting circuits are provided on a membrane.The cabinet is provided with a light emitting diode (LED) and a buzzer which can be operated by timing means at set intervals. The LED and the buzzer also operate while the door is open.Additional facilities may also be provided on the cabinet.

Abstract: The speed of operation of a programmable logic device which contains internally synchronous circuit structure is increased by an improved architecture which does not require a power-up transition cycle. Synchronous operation is carried out only for one transition. In each column of the matrix of programmable cells, the rows of which are coupled to receive the logic signals upon which the device is to operate, the programmable cells of that column are coupled via a respective inverter feedback pair to a column output link of the matrix. The connection between the programmable cells of the matrix and the inverter feedback pairs are coupled to pull-down switch devices control inputs of which are coupled to the output of an OR tie, inputs or which depend upon a prescribed transition on row input links. This transition is detected by respective transition detectors which trigger only on a particular transition edge.