Abstract: A system and method for precisely and continuously estimating the path length between the entrance of a borehole and a probe (10) which is supported by an elastic cable (14) and carries a gyrocluster (42) and accelerometer cluster (40). The precise estimate of borehole path length is used to aid the inertial navigation performed within the survey system and is selectively determined by integration of either the rate at which the probe (10) moves along the borehole or a compensated cable feed rate that is based on the rate at which the cable (14) passes into or out of the borehole with correction being made for changes in temperature and gravity induced cable stretch. Selection of the rate to be integrated at any given time being determined by whether the rate at which probe (10) moves along the borehole exceeds the compensated cable feed rate by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A computerized order/delivery system for use in the food service industry includes a central computer that accepts customer food orders and, based on a customer identifier, automatically selects the store that is to prepare the food and transmits the required information to that location.

Abstract: A computer software security and billing system is disclosed in which the application program is enciphered in accordance with an algorithm driven by a numeric key. The user's computer is provided with a hardware security module and a removable billing module, both of which carry unique codes. A security program accesses the application program and also writes information about billing into the billing module. The billing module is periodically replaced so the user can be charged based on amount of usage of the software.

Abstract: An electronic device for displaying preset amounts of food categories allowable in a daily diet, for permitting a digital entry representative of food consumed, and for subtracting that entry from the preset amount and displaying the result.

Abstract: A credit settlement and ticketing terminal system comprises a terminal unit for issuing request information, and a central unit for performing a processing for ticketing a ticket or the like by referring to the issued request information and a file managed by the central unit, and for delivering results of the processing to the terminal unit to ticket or issue a desired ticket or the like. The central unit includes a processor for processing reservation and ticketing and a calculator for calculating charges for the reservation and ticketing. When the request information from the terminal unit is recognized as credit ticketing request information, the central unit settles the charges incurred by selling on credit, edits results of the credit settlement such that the results and a ticketing data are printed out on different sheets, and delivers as response information, the results and ticketing data to the terminal unit.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for aiming a gun at a target moving along a non-linear path is disclosed which relies upon the discovery that at any given moment in a non-linear path, a target is traversing an arc of a circle. Methods for calculating offsets for aiming a gun at a point further along on the arc of the circle in accordance with the determined time of flight of the projectile are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus (A) generates medical diagnostic data which is reconstructed by an imager (B) into an electronic image representation. The electronic image representation includes an array of digital pixel values which represent a gray scale intensity of a man-readable image displayed on a video monitor (62). An image improving circuit (C) replaces each pixel value I(i,j) with an improved pixel value I'(i,j) defined as follows:I'(i,j)=G(i,j)[I(i,j)-I(i,j)]+I(i,j),where G(i,j) is a transfer function uniquely defined for each pixel and I is the mean of pixel values of neighboring pixels. The transfer function is based on a self-similarity value which is derived by comparing (i) a variation between the pixel value I(i,j) and pixel values in a first surrounding ring with (ii) a variation between the pixel value I(i,j) and pixel values in a second, larger surrounding ring. A zoom circuit (D) enlarges a selected portion of an improved image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measurement of an energy-independent attenuation factor in a predetermined area of a primary X-ray beam which passes through a test object. Two detectors measure scattered radiation on closely adjacent paths in each of two different spectral ranges. The attenuation factor is calculated from the difference of the logarithms of quotients of measurements taken at different engergies.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer for emitting an ultrasonic beam onto an interest region of a living body containing a blood flow and outputting an echo signal, a correlation circuit for determining a correlation of the signals obtained from the ultrasonic transducer and a velocity calculation circuit for calculating the velocity of the blood flow from the correlation data obtained by the correlation circuit. A zero shift process circuit zero-shifts the velocity data obtained from the velocity calculation circuit and compresses the zero-shifted velocity data in correspondance with an amount of zero shift. The zero-shifted flow velocity data is displayed within a possible display range.

Abstract: An automatic blood pressure monitoring system includes a device which detects the degree of saturation of oxygen in the blood at a peripheral part of the body. The detecting device generates a signal if the degree of saturation is detected to be abnormal. A control device operates a blood pressure measuring device in response to the signal indicating abnormal oxygen saturation. In a second embodiment, a trigger device periodically generates a signal to operate the blood pressure measuring device. When an abnormal oxygen saturation is detected, a signal operates the blood pressure measuring device and the triggering interval is shortened.

Abstract: An electronic device for managing at least two bingo cards. The device has stored standard card configurations which correspond to physical cards which have been selected by a player. Also stored are standard winning patterns. The processor compares "called" numbers with card configurations which correspond to the physical cards being played by the user. The device alerts the player when a winning card occurs. When "padded" paper cards are used, the device generates each succeeding game board.

Abstract: An electronic pricing display system for displaying pricing and other specialized information in real time on shelf display tags (18). Display tags (18) are battery operated and receive remotely transmitted infrared signals from optical heads (20) mounted on the ceiling of a store. A handheld electronic controller (22) may be carried by store personnel for obtaining information from or sending information to a selected wireless display tag (18). Pricing information from a main computer (10) is connected by an electronic interface (23) including a microprocessor (24) into a serial information stream having two separate frequencies for relay to the optical heads (20).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining connected substructures within a body is disclosed. The system and method are particularly advantageous for use in medical diagnostic imaging applications. In particular, three dimensional regions exhibiting the same tissue type are similarly labeled. Using the label information together with a seed location located in the substructure of interest, all similarly labeled connected data points are determined. The system and method of the present invention is operable in any situation in which three dimensional signal patterns representing the value of one or more physical properties associated with the substructures within a body at regularly grid locations within the body are presented. A subset of the original data is then provided to a display processor particularly one employing gradient normal shading for display of three dimensional images.