Abstract: The specification discloses a system and method for processing digital representations of grayscale images to produce grayscale image transformations at unparalleled speed and efficiency. The system includes circuitry for effecting transformations of an image by repetitively (1) delaying the serialized digital image, (2) adding a constant value to each word of the delayed serialized digital image, and (3) logically combining the delayed and undelayed serial images on a word-by-word basis.

Abstract: A conventional magnetometer produces an output signal (10) which comprises a series of pulses (12, 14, 16). Each of these pulses has a beat frequency maximum. These pulses are input to a comparator (50) which makes a comparison to a threshold voltage V.sub.0 to produce a bi-level detected signal at a line (62). The detected signal is input to an integrator (52) which produces a series of pulses (78, 80, 82) corresponding respectively with the magnetometer output signal pulses (12, 14, 16). The two states of the detected signal corresponding to positive and negative integration. The time period for the positive integration is proportional to the beat frequency maximum time width period for the corresponding magnetometer output signal pulse. Thus the integrated pulses (78, 80, 82) have an amplitude which is a measure of the maxima time width periods for the corresponding magnetometer signal pulses.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensitive element has elements for collecting charges appearing between the sides of the piezoelectric element. These elements include a flexible insulating strip having one the same face two distinct conductive layers each of which has an annular layer for contact with the piezoelectric sensitive element and connected by a connecting layer to a terminal layer. Application is to the detection of pinging in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: To reliably distinguish between knocking signals derived from an internal combustion engine knock sensor from all the other signals likewise derived from the knock sensor, which includes background noise signals, statistically distributed disturbance signals and the like, a correlation signal is generated, and the received signal is correlated with the correlation signal, which is cyclically varying at an average frequency which is of the frequency of the expected knocking signal, or a whole number multiple thereof. An output recognition is provided upon correlation between the correlation signal and the signal from the knocking sensor. The system can be implemented by a signal generator (6, 61, 62; 63) which provides the correlation signal, correlation being effected by an AND-gate (7, 71, 72; 73), or by software in a microprocessor in which an incoming knocking signal is interrogated in cadence with cyclical variation at the frequency which is the expected knocking frequency of the engine.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting the position of a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes, in the preferred embodiment, a normally closed switch connected to ground in parallel with a PIN diode which forms part of a transmit/receive (T/R) switch used to selectively couple the RF coil assembly to an RF power amplifier and an RF receiver preamplifier. The switch is operable by an actuating rod mounted to the RF coil assembly structure, whose position is to be sensed, such that when the assembly is in place the switch contacts are closed, and open when the assembly is not in place. The opening and closing of the switch shunts the PIN diode in and out, respectively, of the T/R switch circuit, thereby changing the voltage drop across other PIN diodes in the circuit. This change is sensed by a comparator circuit, the output of which is indicative of the RF coil assembly position.

Abstract: The condition of an article e.g. a multihead tool array is compared after having been subjected to some operation with its previous condition e.g. before and after a drilling or other operation of the tool array by forming an image, e.g. a video image, of the article before the operation and automatically comparing it with a second such image formed after the operation. Known image enhancement techniques can be used, and statistical techniques used in data processing equipment to detect significant differences between the images.

Abstract: A video filter is provided for use in an image processing system wherein correlated video data is received by the video filter in a cellular format. The filter includes structure for simultaneously filtering at least four cells of the correlated video data.

Abstract: A light weight, low speed, low cost dynamic balancing machine useful for wheel balancing includes a light weight base, sensors for detecting unbalanced signals and attendant noise, and a low energy drive employing a small electric motor driving elastic belts for rotating the body to be balanced.

Abstract: The gradient coil system for a nuclear spin tomography installation encloses a hollow cylindrical support body, the cylinder axis of which extends in the z direction of an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system with the coordinate origin in the imaging center, in which direction also the magnetic field B.sub.z of a base generating a field gradient G.sub.z, at field magnet is oriented. The gradient coil system contains for least two ring-shaped individual coils which are arranged symmetrically to the x-y plane extending through the imaging center, and furthermore, pairs of saddle-shaped individual coils arranged symmetrically to this plane, for generating field gradients G.sub.x and G.sub.y. In this gradient coil system, the sound level caused in the hollow cylindrical support body is reduced by rigidly connecting the prefabricated G.sub.x and G.sub.

Abstract: In a Sagnac-type of laser accelerometer, a common waveguide transducing element has oppositely rotating optical beams therein which are subsequently combined in a detection circuit to provide an output indicative of acceleration perpendicular to the plane of the transducing element. The counter rotating beams are ninety degrees polarized while passing through the transducer, so that only one beam is affected by the stress forces. The beams are shifted to the same polarization before interference fringes are developed on the detector.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system which produces from any object a diffraction pattern-typically an optical Fourier transform of the object, on a high resolution detector. Different points in the detector can be addressed by a scanning device to produce an electrical signal which can be digitized if required before being processed and compared with reference signals in a processor. A reduction in the formation to be scanned and pattern matched is obtained by using an optical Fourier transform or the like of the original object.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system is disclosed consisting of a support body (2), a radiating layer (8,9), a first .lambda./4 matching layer (10,11) and a second .lambda./4 matching layer (12,13). According to the invention, at least two ultrasonic transducers (4,6) with different and predetermined mid-frequencies are attached to a common support body (2) and have natural foci which overlap if the ultrasonic transducers (4,6) are mechanically separated. The ultrasonic transducer (4), having the higher mid-frequency, is provided with a larger radiating surface (4). This configuration, through the appropriate selection of the mid-frequencies, allows compensation for the frequency dependent damping of the transmission medium by frequency related weighting during radiation. In this manner, substantial improvements with respect to bandwidth of the total transmission path, from transmitting transducer through transmission media to receiving transducer, and the image quality can be realized.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved system for counting of bacterial colonies on a plate. The system permits the counting of colonies under adverse colony counting conditions where there is overlap of colonies and analyzes the plate in a plurality of segments. The colony counts for each segment are subjected to count correction, size qualification and distribution qualification to correct for missed counts and to eliminate data from the system data base when the count for a segment will not produce reliable data. The entire plate is also analyzed for subsample qualification which provides the best estimate of the bacteria containing liquid which was used to produce the colonies as represented by a coefficient of variation of the bacterial density in the liquid.

Abstract: A method for monitoring air inleakage and oxygen content in a steam system, including the steps of: monitoring air flowing in the exhaust of a condenser; determining the total gas flow rate and oxygen content thereof; injecting a pulse of oxygen into the exhaust and measuring the transit time to the monitoring location; determining actual air inleakage rates, independent of or along with the oxygen content thereof; comparing the actual air inleakage and oxygen rates with predetermined rates; and, if the actual rates are increasing relative to the predetermined rates, isolating and eliminating the air inleakage and introducing more oxygen scavenger or, if the actual rates are decreasing relative to the predetermined rates, introducing less oxygen scavenger.

Abstract: A system for measuring amounts of particulates exhausted from a vehicle internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine, has a dilution tunnel into which exhaust gas is introduced and mixed with and diluted by clear air. One part of the diluted gas is introduced into a first sampling arrangement in which a first filter is provided for collecting particulates of dry soot and another part of the diluted gas is introduced into a second sampling arrangement in which a second filter is provided for collecting particulates of soluble organic fraction (SOF). The amounts of dry soot and SOF are calculated in a real time manner in accordance with the pressure drops across the filters on the basis of the time differential of the signals output from pressure transducers provided for each filter.

Abstract: The housing 1 of a gas sensor carries a diffusion barrier 2 for restricting the access of gas to the sensing element 4 and a filter 3 mounted between the diffusion barrier 2 and the sensing element 4. As a result, gas reaching the filter 3 must first pass through the diffusion barrier 2 so that its flux is substantially reduced and the life of the filter is increased correspondingly.

Abstract: The invention relates to paramagnetic analyzer for measurement of oxygen contents of gas mixtures. The analyzer comprises electromagnet in a closed cavity controlled with chopped DC-current, sample and reference gas conduits entering the cavity and magnet core and common exit conduit. Gases are led to magnetic field in the gap between magnet poles through holes (13) and (14) drilled into the magnet core so that pedestals (15 and 16) in the gap guide gas flows to collide to be mixed. The mixed gas flows freely out from the gap to the surrounding cavity space (1).

Abstract: A cavity resonator serves to generate magnetic dipole transitions in a sample, for instance for carrying out electron spin resonance measurements. The natural frequency of the cavity resonator (10) is influenced by a reduction in length of the E flux lines. To this end, conductive areas (20) are arranged at the points where the E flux lines are encountered. This results in an increase of the space factor, related to an unchanged specimen volume, and thus in an improvement of the measuring sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with compression encoding and, in particular, the encoding of the second difference of the position of the boundary of a character on consecutive scanlines. Special code sequences represent the starting location for two new character boundaries relative to the last position in the scanline generated, the next two character boundaries that do not extend into the next scanline, and the end of a line when the preceeding scanline had no intersections with a character boundary. Also included are code sequences representing the first item on the last scanline of the character to terminate the code and at the right of all other boundaries on the current scanline.

Abstract: An artificial head acoustic measuring system includes a construction including portions configured to appear as human shoulders, head and ears on both sides of the head with auditory canals and microphones disposed in the auditory canals. The head portion comprises partial bodies corresponding to mean data of test persons with respect to dimensions and relative positions. The partial bodies comprise regular geometric bodies calibrated with respect to sound reflexion, diffraction and resonance behavior to define a reproducible artificial-head transmission function related to the outer geometric configuration of the construction.