Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing an unmodulated video signal that has a sync tip voltage includes an amplifier for amplifying the video signal according to a control voltage, a transistor receiving the amplified video signal from the amplifier on the base of the transistor and outputting the amplified video signal on the collector, a sync tip voltage detector connected to the emitter of the transistor for detecting the sync tip voltage in the video signal and outputting a voltage derived from the sync tip voltage, an integrator having three inputs, one of which is the voltage derived from the sync tip voltage and another of which is a reference voltage and an output to the amplifier as the control voltage, a stabilization loop including a low current detector that detects low current levels in the amplified video signal through an optical coupler to a resistive element and a pulse stretcher that outputs a signal to the third input of the integrator, whereby the sync tip voltage detector, integrator and amplifier

Abstract: An automatic marker making system and method are provided in which the creation of a new marker is facilitated through the use of already existing marker designs. A computer database of existing markers is searched for markers that are "similar" to the marker being created. An existing marker is considered "similar" if it meets certain user-specified, marker making criteria. Initially, position and orientation data from pattern pieces in the "similar" marker are used to position and orient corresponding pieces in the new marker. Then, the new marker is "compacted" using a software routine to nest all of the new pieces simultaneously, instead of nesting one or two pieces at a time. The compacting routine corrects overlaps between pieces and assures that the new pieces are nested as efficiently as possible.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate production control system controlling the production of semiconductor substrates grouped as lots so that a delay of each lot between processing operations does not exceed a time limit within which the amount of deterioration of the substrates exceeds permissible levels when plural types and plural lots of semiconductor substrates are arbitrarily provided in a process requiring consecutive processing operations. A first control unit controls the progress of production of the semiconductor substrates per lot and various processing equipment. Storage stations store the lots. First and second processing equipment implement predetermined processing operations on the lots, and a conveyer conveys the lots between the storage unit and the first and second processing equipment.

Abstract: A preview control apparatus uses a previously known future target value to control, among other things, robots and industrial machinery. Fast, highly accurate control is achieved in accordance with a target instruction without a learning process. The preview control apparatus produces a control input, outputted to a control object every predetermined sampling period, in a manner that a future deviation estimate obtained from a model of the control object becomes minimized to coincide the output of the control object with the target instruction. The preview control apparatus includes inputs for the future target instruction and a control object output and a memory for storing the future target instruction, a preview control constant and at least one past control input. An arithmetic unit calculates a deviation according to the difference between the target instruction and the control object output.

Abstract: This invention defines a system and method for manufacturing three-dimensional articles from a design created on a CAD item. The article is made using particle deposition of a fluent material to a build-up on a servo assembly base. The fluent material is deposited in the form of droplets from a dispensing head of a head assembly by moving the assembly up and down in a reciprocating motion according to the three-dimensional design coordinator. A droplet of fluent material forms as the dispensing head moves downward and makes contact with the article being formed, as the head reaches its lowest position of travel. The surface tension and capillarity of the fluent material is used to form the mass and shape of the droplet at the top surface of the article as the dispensing is moved upwards. The size and shape of each droplet may also be controlled by the type of fluent material used as well as its temperature and pressure and the size of the dispensing head orifice.

Abstract: A comprehensive, generic mechanism models, monitors, controls and optimizes manufacturing as an on-line, real-time system employing statistical analysis and mathematical techniques with feedback and forward information for local control and global optimization. Manufacturing is treated as a hierarchy of processes which are modeled, controlled, optimized and managed via four interacting networks; an application modeling network, a local control network, a global optimization network, and an implementation/management network. Of these four networks, only the application modeling network is application dependent. The functions of the other three networks are application independent. All manufacturing processes, from simple process steps through manufacturing sectors and lines, to complete factories, are treated identically, thereby simplifying computational complexity. A minimal set of parameters is thereby obtained at any manufacturing level, which reduces a complex manufacturing process to a manageable form.

Abstract: An IPL requesting processor sends an IPL request to a communication path. The other processors detect the IPL request. When a communication channel is secured between the IPL requesting processor and a management processor that holds IPL management data, the management processor transfers the IPL management data to the IPL requesting processor. The IPL management data include data related to load assignable processors and IPL data. The IPL requesting processor receives statuses from load assignable processors. According to the statuses and the IPL management data, the IPL requesting processor allocates IPL data segments to the load assignable processors and instructs them to provide the allocated IPL data segments. The IPL requesting processor receives the IPL data segments from these processors and stores them, thereby obtaining necessary IPL data.

Abstract: A card printing and dispensing system located at the venue of an ongoing or recently completed entertainment event and including a video display monitor, a customer interface, a printer, and a computer control. A customer interested in purchasing a card selects using the customer interface from a variety of options displayed on the video monitor a desired card unique to the particular ongoing or recently completed entertainment event for printing and dispensing by the system. The system is particularly suited to printing and dispensing unique baseball cards which would include information corresponding to an individual game or series of games and available only at the venue where the individual game or series of games were actually played.

Abstract: A receiver in a digital cellular communication system includes a system for receiving a signal transmitted in the cellular system and representing a code word encoded in a binary linear block code and a first digital signal processor for demodulating the signal and a second digital signal processor for decoding the binary linear block code in the demodulated signal. A system operates the digital signal processors to demodulate the code word partially and produce a demodulated portion of the code word, to provide a partial syndrome calculation to the demodulated portion of the code word as at least one additional portion of the code word is demodulated, and to apply an additional syndrome calculation to the at least one additional demodulated portion of the code word, and to combine the partial and additional syndrome calculations to provide a complete syndrome calculation. An output system then outputs decoded signals.

Abstract: A universal method of trellis encoding signals mapped according to any signal constellation format involves constructing an encoder output table and a state transition table. The encoder output table defines the output symbol of an encoder given the input symbol and the present state of the encoder, while the state transition table defines the next state of the encoder given the present state of the encoder and the input applied to the encoder. The output table and the next state table are constructed with the objective of providing maximal distances between the branches of the trellis diagram without any regards for the shift register implementation of the code. Cyclic trellis-coded modulation is an example of such codes without feed-forward or feed-back shift register implementations, and with equal or better performance than "optimal" shift register trellis codes with 16 states or less.

Abstract: A multiprocessing apparatus has a plurality of process processors connected to a carrier processor and controlled by a control system, wherein the apparatus includes connection information signal generating means for generating a connection information signal expressing information of connection of the plurality of process processors to the carrier processor, switching means for generating a registration information signal expressing information of registration of connection of the plurality of process processors to the carrier processor, and control means for carrying out a control process while logically judging a matching state between the connected process processors and the registered process processors by reference to the connection information and the registration information. Thus, it is possible to provide a multiprocessing apparatus in which process processors to be connected to the carrier processor can be increased or decreased in number easily and securely.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic insertion of selected inserts into statements to be mailed in which post processing mail data, including selective insert parameters, are developed into a record for mail items and communicated directly to an integrated system controller, which then directs selective insertion of enclosures. The system comprises a mail item preparation apparatus interfaced with a data processor, an inserter apparatus, and an integrated system controller interfaced with the data processor and the inserter. The mail preparing apparatus generally includes a printer, and is mechanically interfaced with the inserter for transfer of mail items. The integrated system controller directs the inserter to selectively include inserts with the mail items according to insert parameter data received from the data processor.

Abstract: Soft errors occur during normal use of a solid-state memory such as EEPROM or Flash EEPROM. A soft error results from the programmed threshold voltage of a memory cell being drifted from its originally intended level. The error is initially not readily detected during normal read until the cumulative drift becomes so severe that it develops into a hard error. Data could be lost if enough of these hard errors swamps available error correction codes in the memory. A memory device and techniques therefor are capable of detecting these drifts and substantially maintaining the threshold voltage of each memory cell to its intended level throughout the use of the memory device, thereby resisting the development of soft errors into hard errors.

Abstract: A medication dispensing and timing system includes a central monitoring facility and a plurality of patient communicators, each containing sufficient memory for storing the medication schedule of a respective patient, and a clock circuit providing time and date information utilized in conjunction with the stored schedule to provide visual and aural prompts to the patient as medication is to be taken. Upon receiving a prompt the patient actuates a switch which causes transmitter means within the communicator to send a reply signal back to a computer at the monitoring facility, which includes a memory containing the same medication schedule and a clock circuit providing date and time information, whereby a follow-up procedure is initiated, including a follow-up message sent to the communicator, in the event a reply message is not received within a predetermined time following a scheduled medication event.

Abstract: After an initializing step S302, a new minimum functional value F(*X.sub.2) is obtained from a present minimum functional value F(*X.sub.1) by a exploration in a step S303. F(*X.sub.1) and F(*X.sub.2) are compared in a step S304. If F(*X.sub.2).gtoreq.F(*X.sub.1), then a step size is updated in a step S999, and the step S303 and the following steps are repeated. If F(*X.sub.2)<F(*X.sub.1), then *X.sub.2 is updated as *X.sub.1, and *X.sub.1 is updated as *X.sub.0 in a step S305. F(*X.sub.1) is compared with a first functional threshold value .epsilon..sub.1 in a step S306. If F(*X.sub.1)<.epsilon..sub.1, then the process is ended in a step S318. If F(*X.sub.1).gtoreq..epsilon..sub.1, then new F(*X.sub.2) is determined according to a pattern move in a step S307. F(*X.sub.1) and F(*X.sub.2) are compared in a step S308. If F(*X.sub.2).gtoreq.F(*X.sub.1), then the step S303 and the following steps are repeated. If F(*X.sub.2)<F(*X.sub.1), then a new minimum functional value candidate F(*X.sub.

Abstract: A control system having an operator control unit and a remote unit having a plurality of motors includes a control subsystem for controlling the operator control unit and the remote unit. A communication subsystem coupled to the control subsystem exchanges information between the operator control unit and the remote unit. A user input subsystem provides user commands to the control subsystem and an actuator subsystem controls the motors in the remote unit according control signals from the control subsystem. A sensor subsystem provides sensor information at the remote unit to the control subsystem and a display subsystem displays the information from the remote unit. A power supply unit provides power to the control system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a production method for handling plates to be cut out of a plate blank. The production method is effected via a production system by carrying out a variety of working operations in an integrated manner, at a so-called plate working center, with a shearing mechanism, an unloading and handling mechanism, as well as a single or multi-section conveyor mechanism serving as a buffer conveyor storage therebetween, the mechanisms being computer controlled.

Abstract: A delete mark is displayed at the start end of a directional vector, and a finish mark at the other end thereof. The vector is deleted when the delete mark is touched, and input of the vector is completed when the finish mark is touched.

Abstract: In a distributed process-control system, program-controlled apparatus is provided for permitting an operator to control the mode of a Sequential Function Chart (SFC) to place the Chart in any of five different modes as a convenience in monitoring, editing and/or changing the SFC program. These modes are: OFF mode, for temporarily disabling operation of the SFC Chart, an AUTO mode which allows the SFC program and Chart to run as configured, a HOLD mode which freezes the chart in its current state, a MANUAL mode enabling the operator to force the Chart to an operator-selected step while the output of the current step is maintained active, and a TRACE mode enabling the operator to view the steps in the Chart sequentially, and to force the steps without executing them.

Abstract: A system for employing a computer to control a device to provide a plurality of services for a plurality of entities. Each entity corresponds to exactly one of the services and each service has its own copy of the code which defines the service. The system associates a process which executes the service with each service. The code for a service defines a finite state machine which is continually executed by the service's process. While in a given state, the finite state machine may traverse a decision graph which is directly accessible to the process. Actions to be taken on traversal of a node of the decision graph may be defined in the finite state machine. The service's process communicates with other processes and with itself by means of interprocess messages. Each state of the finite state machine contains event handlers for responding to messages received by the service's process.