Abstract: A point-of-sale (POS) processing system includes a host and a plurality of portable POS terminals. A local controller may be provided intermediate the host and the POS terminals, so that the POS terminals communicate with the host via the local controller. Each POS terminal includes a main portion and an extension portion. The main portion may be supported by a harness for strapping the main portion to a dealer's body. The extension portion may be small in size and light in weight so that it can be easily held with one hand. The main portion includes a two-way communication subsystem, a processor, and at least one data interface. The extension portion includes a reading device (e.g., a magnetic strip reader) for reading financial account data from an account authorization device (e.g., a credit card, debit card or prepay card). It further includes an input device (e.g., a keypad) for inputting a security code access key (e.g.

Abstract: A microcontroller directed circuit evaluates volume flows through fluid distribution lines. The control circuit is integrated into a modularized housing designed to retro-fit standard fluid divider valve assemblies. The modular housing includes a plunger-driven magnet positioned to actuate a reed switch in response to divider valve piston reciprocation. The control circuit evaluates the frequency of reed switch actuation pulses to derive intelligible fluid flow related data available for RAM storage or conveyance to peripheral computer devices. In a preferred embodiment, a cavitated cylindrical housing contains a control circuit and a reed switch. A plunger acts as a lever arm to transmit the lateral oscillation of a fluid control piston within a divider valve assembly to a magnetic field source within the housing.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method are provided for data communication over noisy media. The apparatus includes one or both of a transmitter circuit located at a transmitting location and a receiver circuit located at a receiving location. The data is encoded to provide error correction capabilities. The encoded signal is further modified by performing one or more linear mathematical operations in order to further randomize the data signal. The transmitter circuit thus generates a wideband spread spectrum signal based on the data which is to be transmitted, which spreads the signal and improves its immunity to noise. The coding used to spread the data signal may or may not be a function of the data itself. The present invention provides enhanced noise immunity without any resulting degradation in the operation and efficiency of the error correction coding.

Abstract: A controlling method in a controlling system which changes the controlled physical quantity to follow up a target value smoothly to maximum. The control system includes a target value setting portion for setting a target value Y of the controlled physical quantity and a desired variation operation portion for obtaining a desired variation dWx of the controlled physical quantity in accordance with the target value Y. Further, a control demand output portion for outputting a control demand value Z in accordance with the desired variation dXw and a controlled apparatus which changes the controlled physical quantity in accordance with the control demand value Z are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel dispenser control console which is interfaced to a cash register for down-loading sales information to the register when the sale is paid out on the console. The control console includes a programmable data processor which processes commands for controlling the dispensers. Commands to the dispensers are initiated through input keys on the console. Sales information is down-loaded to the cash register through a serial connection to the console. Sales information is transferred from the console to the register in a command format (character string) which mimics a cash register keyboard entry. The system uses a communication protocol translator to configure the command logic signals from the console into a format readable by the dispensers such that the system can be used with various dispenser brands.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for processing instructions within a data processing system including a processor having a plurality of execution units. According to the method of the present invention, a number of instructions stored within a memory within the data processing system are retrieved from memory. A selected instruction among the number of instructions is decoded to determine if the selected instruction would be noneffective if executed by the processor. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, noneffective instructions include instructions with invalid opcodes and instructions that would not change the value of any data register within the processor. In response to determining that the selected instruction would be noneffective if executed by the processor, the selected instruction is recoded into a specified instruction format prior to dispatching the selected instruction to one of the number of execution units.