Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques are used for processing data having multiple possible values, for example, gray-scale values of pixels of an image. This is useful in scanning of digitally-coded image data to detect anomalies, for example defects in some of a series of manufactured products. The preferred processing apparatus has either one processing channel or multiple parallel processing channels. The apparatus samples or scans incoming signals to produce a matrix of scan values, selects subsets of the scan values to define samples, extracts at least one feature, such as mean image brightness (MM), activity (MA), gradient absolute value (MG) and/or gradient direction (MD) from each sample, uses the at least one feature as an address to retrieve, from a table, a corresponding probability-of-occurrence value, derives, from the probability-of-occurrence values of a plurality of the samples, a decision value, and compares the decision value with a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A pixel value estimation technique uses non-linear prediction to estimate a pixel value before the pixel is known, based on previous values seen. Initially, a number of classes are defined. Each class is a template for a pattern of pixel values. The pixels constituting the support for the prediction of a given pixel are compared to each template. A value giving the goodness of fit to each template is determined as well as a predicted pixel value based on that template. The predictions from each template are averaged together using weights related to the goodness of the fit to that template to produce a consolidated prediction.

Abstract: In an RF receiver a system is provided to digitally determine when a pulse has stabilized and when a pulse has restabilized after becoming unstable. The restabilized levels can be detected whether they are above or below the initial stabilization level. The system uses the stable information to determine if a pulse-on-pulse signal is being received or if a trailing edge pulse is being received. The system can provide separate information about each pulse in a pulse-on-pulse situation and can provide separate information concerning the leading pulse and trailing pulse when the trailing pulse occurs in the shadow of the leading pulse.

Abstract: A modular programmable controller, comprised of a central processing unit and peripheral units, has a serial bus system in the form of a shift register. The total length of the shift register is equal to the sum of the individual register lengths of the bus interface connections of the peripheral units. The individual register lengths of the bus interface connections are dependent upon command and peripheral units. The individual register lengths amount to between 0 and 40 bits. This results in an exceptionally efficient exchange of information between the central processing unit and peripheral units.

Abstract: A circuit for recovering a clock signal from incoming data and for retiming the incoming data comprises circuitry for generating a plurality of phased clock signals responsive to a selected frequency and clock recovery circuitry for generating a recovered clock from the plurality of phased clocks and the incoming data. The recovered clock is used to retime the data, which may be either RZ or NRZ data. To recover clock from the incoming data, the presence of a logic "1" is detected in one or more data streams and the phase of the data relative to the phased clocks is determined. Hold circuitry stores the phase information during the interval between logic "1" bits and aligns the phase information with the leading phased clock. Compare circuitry and counter circuitry detect changes in phase information to insure that a change is not merely the result of a metastable anomaly.

Abstract: A radio link for a digital radio transmission system having spatial and/or angular diversity is optimized in real time by searching for a minimum of the analog BER function BERn(.phi.), by analyzing the minimum to determine if it is an "absolute" minimum that will result in an optimal radio link, and if not, searching for another minimum until the absolute minimum is located. Once the relative phase .phi. corresponding to the absolute minimum has been thus determined with both channels having the same nominal attenuation level, the relative attenuation level T of the two channels may then be varied in order to optimize the dispersion Ban.sub.n (T) of the recombined data spectrum while holding the relative phase at its previously optimized value.

Abstract: In a system that uses a dither signal in the production of a transmitted signal, the recoverability of an original trellis code is maintained while forming the dither signal using a modulo value that is equal to the distance between two adjacent symbols. This is accomplished by forming individual modulo counts for each of the orthogonal components produced by the transmitter's 3-tap FIR filter. The modulo counts and the bits from the trellis encoder are used to substitute the constellation subset identified by the trellis encoder with another constellation subset. The substituted subset is used for transmission and results in recovery of the original trellis code by the trellis decoder in the receiver.

Abstract: A volume sensor for liquids comprising a measuring chamber in which toothed meter wheels mesh with one another and are mounted on stationary pivots. Flow paths are formed in at least one of the measuring-chamber end walls and are separated by a web in the pivot plane, the edges of which are substantially symmetrical with the pivot plane. The tooth spaces of the meter wheels, at least on the side facing the flow paths, are formed with a recess which extends radially inwards compared with the root circle and is symmetrical in respect to the tooth space. The web is constructed so that whenever a tooth space of the two meter wheels is in the centre position in the pivot plane, the edges of the web substantially coincide in shape with the neighbouring flanks of the teeth adjacent the tooth space so that the latter is cut off from the flow paths in the end walls. The flow paths allow the liquid pressure to be reduced before the tooth space is closed off.

Abstract: A discrete integrated repeater device and port MAU/AUI functions shares resources among its several ports. The device includes a single multi-bit free running counter providing preselected timing intervals to a plurality of latches. A signal undergoing measurement clears the latch while a preselected timing signal sets the latch. Receipt of a timing signal at a set latch indicates success or failure of some particular condition under test. The device satisfies an IEEE 802.3 specification for execution of a link integrity test. The device is also able to selectively disable or enable the link integrity test function for particular ports. A plurality of latches, one associated with each port, is set upon carrier sense detection at the particular port. A token passing mechanism implemented with a daisy chained line coupled to each latch enables a polling of each latch to provide carrier sense information about each port in a serial format.

Abstract: The encode and decode subsystems use a continuously variable slope delta-modulation (CVSD) approach, with either parallel or serial data transfers. To allow for synchronization with a stable data transfer, the entire subsystem uses the main acquisition systems bit rate clock (BRC) as a basis. All other clocks required are simply divided down versions of the BRC and a request pulse from the main system to transfer the data. The delta-modulator is clocked at a rate commensurate with the word placement in the minor frame of the data acquisition cycle; the NRZ-L bits are clocked into serial-to-parallel registers, then latched into the parallel discrete interface (PDI) unit of the main data system. For a serial feed, a similar situation is possible by clocking the data off the circuit board into a serial discrete interface (SDI) unit. The request pulse that activates, the transfer is synchronized with the BRC to ensure a stable transfer. The decoder uses the same CVSD integrated circuit to decode the digital data.

Abstract: The segmentation process of the invention consists in making representative objects of classes to be discriminated and for which a statistical law is estimated or is available which defines them on characteristic measurements. The data base is segmented by determining cuts between the classes taken two by two, the cuts being computed using the descriptive parameters of the statistical laws of each class. Each new object is assigned to the most probable class.

Abstract: A synchronizer and phase aligning method that provide signal smoothing and filtering functions as well as slip-cycle compensation, and allow for multichannel digital phase alignment, bus deskewing, integration of multiple transceivers within a single semiconductor chip, etc. A delay line produces a plurality of delayed input replicas of an input signal. A clock phase adjuster produces a sampling clock signal from a reference clock signal. The sampling clock signal may be phase adjusted to be offset from the input signal. After certain smoothing and filtering functions, selection logic detects a phase relationship between the sampling clock signal and the input replicas and identifies a closely synchronized signal for output. Using this identified replica signal, slip-cycle compensation and retiming logic outputs a compensated data output signal synchronized with the reference clock signal. Also, an integrated multiple transceiver produced using the phase alignment technique is presented.

Abstract: A device for recovering the carrier of a TDMA signal supplies the complex envelope of this signal on a real channel and an imaginary channel. Circuitry for offsetting the constellation of the complex envelope by .pi./4 supply a complex signal on a main channel and on an auxiliary channel. An energy detector arrangement controls a multiplexer so that it supplies to a correlator whichever of the real or imaginary channels conveys the greater energy. The correlator calculates the correlation level between the multiplexer output signal and a reference singular word. An arrangement for comparing the correlation level with a threshold value indicates detection of the singular word in the signal on the channel applied to the correlator.

Abstract: A radio communication unit for a digital communication system is provided in which an input information signal is protected from transmission errors by forward error correction encoding the information signal. In addition, the communication unit enhances subsequent processing of a transmitted form of the information signal by a hard-limiting receiver by inserting a predetermined synchronization sequence into the information signal. Further, a corresponding radio communication unit is provided which includes a hard limiting mechanism for removing the magnitude of each sample in a group of data samples of a signal received from over a radio communication channel. In addition, weighting coefficients of the hard-limited group of data samples for maximum likelihood decoding and diversity combining are generated by comparing the hard-limited group of data samples to a known predetermined synchronization sequence.

Abstract: An air flow sensor unit for an internal combustion engine control system which detects an air flow rate and outputs an optical signal corresponding to the detected air flow rate to an external equipment including a bridge circuit including a temperature sensitive resistor which detects the air flow rate and outputs a first electrical signal indicative of a voltage amplitude corresponding to the detected air flow rate; a first converting circuit which converts the first electrical signal outputted from the bridge circuit into a second electrical signal indicative of a digital value corresponding to the voltage amplitude of the first electrical signal; a second converting circuit including a laser diode, for converting the second electrical signal outputted from the first converting circuit into the optical signal having the same digital value as that of the second electrical signal; a housing for accommodating the bridge circuit, first converting circuit and second converting circuit; and an apparatus of a len

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for switching a signal from a first transmission media having a characteristic impedance to a second transmission media. The system includes a driver for driving a signal, the driver having a driver input having a high impedance relative to a characteristic impedance of the first transmission media and the driver having a driver output having an impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of the first transmission media. A first switch couples the driver output either to the first transmission media or to the second transmission media and couples a signal from the first transmission media, which is coupled to the driver input, either to the first transmission media or to the second transmission media.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for estimating the carrier frequency of a PSK numeric signal, in which symbols are transmitted at frequency fs. The invention is characterized by the use of an estimate, at each symbol interval, of the angular difference between two successive data. Such estimate, suitably processed, provides the control signal for a circuit that compensates the frequency error between the carrier of the received signal and the local oscillator. In a not limiting embodiment, the invention can be implemented through digital circuitry.

Abstract: An acoustic displacement flowmeter uses a high-compliance acoustic-type displacement transducer to measure fluid flow accumulated by temporarily restricting the flow of a fluid along a path. The displacement transducer signal, representative of fluid flow rate, is integrated after an initial settling period elapses, and the integrated signal is periodically sampled. The number of samples taken during a measurement cycle depends upon the slope of the integrated signal and the maximum sample period permitted. The samples are summed and the actual flow rate is computed by a microcomputer.

Abstract: An intermediate frequency (IF) to baseband frequency signal converter for decoding an analog IF signal using phase information contained in the IF signal includes a first signal generator for generating an analog square wave signal from the IF signal. The signal converter also includes a second signal generator for generating a local phase reference signal, and a phase difference determinator for determining at a particular sampling interval a phase difference between a phase of the analog square wave signal and a phase of the local phase reference signal, wherein the phase difference represents a symbol which the signal converter has decoded from the IF signal.

Abstract: A method of pre-emphasising a signal comprises the steps of a) receiving the signal as an input; b) applying the input signal to a processing system comprising a pair of parallel signal processing paths each comprising a non-linear phase filter and a non-linearity, and a further parallel path, wherein the filters in the pair of processing paths have equal but opposite phase responses and substantially equal magnitude responses, and wherein the outputs of the parallel processing paths are combined to produce the raw pre-emphasised signal; whereby the input signal is subjected to a non-linear dynamic range compression which is phase linear. Alternatively or additionally the input signal is split into at least three different frequency bands for non-linear processing. Preferably the pre-emphasised signal is pre-corrected using an iterative system. Complementary de-emphasis systems are also described, as well as pre-emphasis and de-emphasis apparatus.