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: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method of compensating for Doppler error in a wireless communications system employing Viterbi decoding comprises the steps of: for each signal sample in a first predetermined-sized grouping of received signal samples, performing a parallel Viterbi update and short symbol decode; and for a second predetermined-sized grouping, forming by pipeline processing an estimate of the Doppler error in accordance with the parallel short traceback decoding performed for the first grouping, and adjusting each signal sample in the second grouping in accordance with the estimated Doppler error.Briefly, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a Viterbi traceback reconstructed signal sample index comprises: a state counter, a traceback shift register (TBSR); a signal reconstruction table; and a comparator coupled in a configuration so as to provide the sign bit to the TBSR from a comparison of binary digital signals.

Abstract: An automatic programming system automatically decides which machining system should perform which machining step and generates a machining program therefor. The programming system utilizes a machining step information, a workpiece information, a tool information and a machining step corresponding workpiece information. The machining step information defines a machining step kind and a machining specification for each machining step. The workpiece information defines a workpiece material and a workpiece shape for each workpiece. The tool information defines a specification of a tool used in each machining system, a machining step kind workable and workpiece material workable by the tool. The machining step corresponding workpiece information defines a workpiece used in each machining step.

Abstract: A sewing data processor including input unit for inputting a sewing pattern to be sewn on a cloth using a sewing machine; sewing data preparation unit for preparing sewing data to be used in the sewing machine for sewing the sewing pattern, the sewing data preparation unit preparing the sewing data based on a predetermined point within a sewing reference frame encompassing the sewing pattern; and sewing reference frame setting unit capable of setting a sewable region of the sewing machine as the sewing reference frame.

Abstract: The need for a more-readily usable interface for programmable devices is widely recognized. The present invention relates to programmable sequencing devices, or, more particularly, the remote controls for consumer electronic devices. The present invention provides an enhanced interface for facilitating human input of a desired control sequence in a programmable device by employing specialized visual feedback. The present invention also relates to a new interface and method of interfacing with a programmable device, which is usable as an interface for a programmable video cassette recorder.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus which includes a CRC circuit for performing a CRC calculation of the currently received cell data using an initial value "0" simultaneously with start of reception of data, and a CRC correction circuit for calculating a CRC correction value by performing a specific calculation of a CRC intermediate value in management data read out from a management data memory. Also included is an XOR circuit for XORing the CRC calculation result obtained by the CRC circuit and the correction value obtained by the CRC correction circuit which obtains a correct CRC intermediate value upon receiving data for one cell. The CRC calculation is started substantially simultaneously with the start of a reception of cell data, and is completed simultaneously with the end of reception, thus allowing easy read and write control of management data.

Abstract: Each path (P.sub.1 -P.sub.10) is travelled by moving a tool in two directions in a determined working zone (20) through which the material (22) is advanced intermittently under the action of a control circuit that is separate from the control circuit of the tool, without the work of the tool being totally interrupted while the material is advancing. Each time the material advances, it does so over a distance that is less than the length of the working zone, as measured in the advance direction of the material, and while the material is advancing, the tool is caused to travel along at least a portion of one or more paths (P.sub.6 -P.sub.8) over a portion of the material that is already within the working zone prior to the advance, and that is not removed from the working zone during the advance.

Abstract: There is provided a data memory apparatus which can efficiently use a general-purpose DRAM as a memory used during the digital data error correcting and modifying processing. The apparatus is comprised of a DRAM, a DRAM access unit and an error correcting circuit. Input digital data is first subjected to the error correcting processing by means of the error correcting circuit, assigned with a result of the error correcting processing and transferred to the DRAM access unit. The DRAM access unit accesses the DRAM in a page mode to store the data in the DRAM.

Abstract: A plant (72) is operable to receive control inputs c(t) and provide an output y(t). The plant (72) has associated therewith state variables s(t) that are not variable. A control network (74) is provided that accurately models the plant (72). The output of the control network (74) provides a predicted output which is combined with a desired output to generate an error. This error is back propagated through an inverse control network (76), which is the inverse of the control network (74) to generate a control error signal that is input to a distributed control system (73) to vary the control inputs to the plant (72) in order to change the output y(t) to meet the desired output. The control network (74) is comprised of a first network NET 1 that is operable to store a representation of the dependency of the control variables on the state variables. The predicted result is subtracted from the actual state variable input and stored as a residual in a residual layer (102).

Abstract: A high speed cyclical redundancy check system for use in digital systems. The high speed cyclical redundancy check system providing programmable error correction functions for different data protocols. The high speed cyclical redundancy check system providing programmable data paths for minimizing overhead and maximizing throughput. The system supporting multiple operations in a single cycle.

Abstract: When a machining program copied from the toll center is transferred to the NC device, the transfer system determining means of the controller compares a machining schedule copied from the toll center and its machining program with transfer judging rules created in the database to automatically judge whether memory transfer or DNC transfer system is more suitable, and the machining program transfer means transfers the machining program to the NC device by the selected system.

Abstract: A document dispensing system wherein any or all security levels in a document dispensing system are accessible upon issuance of a security controller override command so as to permit operation of the dispenser in a particular security mode without regard to whether a corresponding security passcode has been entered on the dispenser keyboard or otherwise.

Abstract: In a system for converting multimedia information to an optically readable code, printing/recording the code on an information recording medium, and reading the code to restore it to the original multimedia information, a read unit optically reads the code. A decoding unit demodulates the code read by the read unit and outputs demodulated data. A reproduction unit performs processing associated with error correction in units of partial data chunks each consisting, as a unit of an aggregate of a predetermined amount of demodulated data output from the decoding unit. An output unit acquires a predetermined number of partial data chunks output from the reproduction unit to form final output data and outputs the data as the recognizable original multimedia information. An error partial data chunk detection units detects an omitted portion or a portion for which error correction by the reproduction unit has failed as an error partial data chunk in units of partial data chunks output from the output unit.

Abstract: Characteristics of the plasma in a plasma-based manufacturing process step are monitored directly and in real time by observing the spectrum which it produces. An artificial neural network analyzes the plasma spectrum and generates control signals to control one or more of the process input parameters in response to any deviation of the spectrum beyond a narrow range. In an embodiment, a plasma reaction chamber forms a plasma in response to input parameters such as gas flow, pressure and power. The chamber includes a window through which the electromagnetic spectrum produced by a plasma in the chamber, just above the subject surface, may be viewed. The spectrum is conducted to an optical spectrometer which measures the intensity of the incoming optical spectrum at different wavelengths. The output of optical spectrometer is provided to an analyzer which produces a plurality of error signals, each indicating whether a respective one of the input parameters to the chamber is to be increased or decreased.

Abstract: A digital data error correction processing method and apparatus suited for high density recording in a high definition VTR etc. When the number of tracks per field is N, the digital data recorded, for example, the video signals, are given at least 1/N outer codes for each block in the block outer code ECC circuit (4A). Further, the outer codes and inner codes are made product codes in configuration, the inner codes are added at the block inner code decoding circuit (14A), and the outer codes among the double construction error correcting codes are dispersed over one field's worth of N number of tracks to be recorded on a magnetic tape (1).

Abstract: Circuit boards are fabricated in an incremental fashion. Conventional design data representing a layout of the circuit board is received. The design data is transformed into a three-dimensional matrix of increments (e.g., cubes) representing the circuit board, where each increment or cube within the matrix is identified by an address and is assigned a fabrication material. The circuit board is then built at a fabrication station by depositing the assigned fabrication materials onto a fabrication base in an incremental fashion as indicated by the matrix.

Abstract: Glitchless switching between active and standby telecommunication apparatus having hierarchical nested parity bits is provided. A higher order parity bit is calculated based on defined data as well as a lower order parity bit. A method is provided for aligning each parity bit generated by a standby processor with a corresponding parity bit independently generated by an active processor. This alignment is accomplished prior to output frames of data being supplied by the standby processor in order to provide glitchless switching such that the first frame of data supplied by the standby processor contains parity bits which are in agreement with the corresponding data in the frame.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an electrostatic powder painting process having a conveyor line adaptable for transporting articles to be electrostatically powder painted sequentially through a plurality of zones in the process. The monitoring system dispenses powder paint particles from a delivery container through a conduit to an electrostatic powder paint spray gun used for applying the powder paint particles to the articles in a painting zone, and senses the weight of the delivery container and powder paint particles therein with a scale device. The scale device generates a paint weight signal corresponding to the real time weight of the delivery container and powder paint particles therein. The monitoring system transmits the paint weight signal from the scale device to a computer-monitor adaptable for displaying the real time weight of the delivery container and powder paint particles therein as a container weight function over a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A portable programming device is provided for communicating with and downloading tripping characteristics to a circuit breaker electronic trip unit. The programming device incorporates an umbilical cable which is attached to a connector on the trip unit, over which power is supplied to the trip unit and data is exchanged, a keypad with function keys including On/Off, Function, Breaker/Pane, Sensor and Program keys, and a LCD display which is capable of showing pertinent parameters such as circuit breaker type, sensor size, pickup and delay settings, current flowing through the circuit breaker and the trip characteristics to be downloaded to the trip unit. The portable programming device has a provision to operate from power supplied by a built in battery or from an external AC adapter. The programming device is presented with a fiber optic cable which, when coupled to a trip unit which is attached to a powered circuit breaker, can pass data to the device display.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying the structure and estimating the parameters in the structure of a controlled system is described. The apparatus uses a structure identifier, in a preferred embodiment, employing a neural network, to match the relationship of the system inputs and outputs to a mathematical relation. This identified structure is communicated to a parameter estimator. The parameter estimator may employ a neural network to give an initial parameter vector which can be used to generate, iteratively, better parameter estimates. This increases the efficacy of the parameter estimator. The apparatus can be inserted into controllers for various systems to improve performance. Using a neural network for parameter estimation as shown can be generalized to any nonlinear optimization problem.