Abstract: Automotive vehicle electronic devices are diagnosed through communication with a flexible diagnostic tool which automatically switches between a wide variety of communications protocols as required for diagnostic communication tasks presented to the tool. Simultaneous communication with a plurality of devices under a plurality of communications protocols is supported by the tool wherein communication hardware is available for parallel communications under the various protocols via various communication channels and is apportioned for each active diagnostic communication task for the duration of that task.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for maximizing the thermodynamic efficiency and the heat transfer capacity of a counter-current heat exchanger through the use of an optimized multi-component working fluid. Given the operational temperatures and pressures of the heat exchanger, the disclosure teaches a method for selecting the components for the working fluid and for determining the molar fractions of the components that determine the optimal mixture for the working fluid. Because the effective specific heat of a high pressure stream of this mixture is equal to the effective specific heat of a low pressure stream throughout the entire temperature range of the heat exchanger, the thermodynamic efficiency of the heat exchange process is maximized. In addition, because the difference between the enthalpies per unit mass of the two streams are maximized throughout the temperature range of the exchanger, this mixture provides optimal capacity for heat transfer in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A transform table creation system that provides nonuniform grid point spacing for input and output tables of a color transformation. The nonuniform spacing is linearly related to the distance from a central point in a region of interest. The reduced size input and output tables allow creation of a reduced size composite table.

Abstract: The present invention allows for calibration of a scanning probe microscope under computer control. The present invention comprehends either the removal of nonlinear artifacts in the microscope output data after measurement has been taken (a off-line process), or the correction of nonlinear movements in the microscope scanner such that the scanner moves in a linear fashion during measurement (a realtime process). The realtime process may be operated in both an open-loop and a closed-loop process. The processes of the present invention uses an average cross-section of the scan in order to simplify the calculation and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Interpolation methods and centroid calculations are used to locate features on the scanned sample to subpixel precision.

Abstract: A buffer memory buffers a sequence of image data I.sub.0, I.sub.1, . . . of respective frames while shifting them step by step and discarding the least recent one of them for each step. An inter-image distance calculating means calculates the distance d(t-i, t-j) between respective pieces of image data held in the buffer memory and stores such distance values in a distance table part in a sequential order. A scene changing ratio calculating part calculates the scene changing ratio C(t-j.sub.c) at time t while referring to the distance table part. A decision part compares the scene changing ratio C(t-j.sub.c) with a predetermined threshold value to determine if the image of a preceding frame j.sub.c -th from the time t is a cut point.

Abstract: A system for measuring the accuracy of a machines and mechanisms having a driving member and a driven member is disclosed. The absolute position of the driving member is determined using a first absolute encoder operatively engaged to the driving member. The actual absolute position of the driven member is also determined using a second absolute encoder operatively engaged to the driven member. The theoretical absolute position of the driven member is then calculated based upon the absolute position of the driving member. The actual absolute position of the driven member is compared to the theoretical absolute position of the driven member, preferably by subtraction, to determine the accuracy of the machines and mechanisms. Optical absolute encoders may be used and the process may be performed using a microprocessor which may utilize a ratio function to calculate the theoretical absolute position of the driven member based upon the absolute position of a driving member.

Abstract: A digital image differential pulse code modulation decompressor for simultaneously generating, during a cycle of operation of said decompressor, a decompressed value for a plurality of selected pixels located on a diagonal of an array of pixels. A storage stores an error value for each selected pixel to be processed during a cycle of operation of the decompressor. A processor simultaneously generates a decompressed value for each selected pixel where the decompressed value is derived from the error value for each selected pixel and a predicted value generated by the processor for each selected pixel. The predicted value is derived from a predictor which is at least a second order, two dimensional predictor.

Abstract: An interactive multi-station medical specimen analysis system for simultaneously analyzing a medical specimen at remote locations and accessing, for evaluation, the results of each of the analyses at a central laboratory is disclosed. The system comprises a server for storing databases. A central laboratory, interacts with the dedicated computers through the server to review, evaluate and either accept or reject specimen analyses. Communication means connect the server with the plurality of dedicated computers, laboratory computer and a centralized mainframe. Analytical instrument to dedicated computer interface software interprets the instrument language into the computer program language and the computer program language into the instrument language. Dedicated computer interactive means request analytical tests, transmit the test results to the server databases and receive and display data from the server databases.

Abstract: A pulse-echo, immersion method for ultrasonic evaluation of a material which accounts for and eliminates nonlevelness in the equipment set-up and sample thickness variation effects employs a single transducer and automatic scanning and digital imaging to obtain an image of a property of the material, such as pore fraction. The nonlevelness and thickness variation effects are accounted for by pre-scan adjustments of the time window to insure that the echoes received at each scan point are gated in the center of the window. This information is input into the scan file so that, during the automatic scanning for the material evaluation, each received echo is centered in its time window. A cross-correlation function calculates the velocity at each scan point, which is then proportionalized to a color or grey scale and displayed on a video screen.

Abstract: Switching devices in which current contacts are made by actuating a magnetic armature, are tested by analyzing the vibrations or sound emission occurring under operating conditions. According to the present invention, the sound emitted by the switching device when it is actuated is detected by a sensor and is transmitted to an evaluation device for discriminating the time and/or frequency curve of individual sound components. With the process of the present invention, discriminating between the sound signals produced by the making of the contacts on the one hand, and the striking of the armature on the other hand, is possible. In addition, a sound analysis in a suitable time range permits any faults present in the switching device to be classified. Finally, especially in the application to flashing signal relays, whether the sound of the relay is proper, can be objectively determined. In all cases, particularly the high frequency sound components are evaluated.

Abstract: Imaging instruments for inspecting products, such as semiconductor chips, are calibrated by providing a reference test structure having features which can be located by electrical measurements not subject to tool-induced shift and wafer-induced shift experienced by the imaging instrument. The reference test structure is first qualified using electrical measurements, and is then used to calibrate the imaging instrument. The electrical measurements may be made by forcing a current between a plurality of spaced reference features and an underlying conductor, or may be made by capacitive, conductive, magnetic, or impedance-measuring techniques. Capacitive techniques may also be used to detect features not susceptible of resistance measurement, such as dielectric or insulative materials, or metallic structures not accessible for forcing a current therethrough.

Abstract: A system is provided for collecting subjective data from a user of a computer or computer terminals. A user performing a task on his or her computer or terminal is polled, by: interrupting the task being performed; a banner appears on the screen of the display terminal with the selectable option of continuing with the interruption or returning immediately to the interrupted task. If a user selects to continue with the interruption, one or more questions, having selectable responses is presented to the user. After responding to the questions, the responses are stored on disk, and the user returns to the task that was interrupted. In real-time or after a period of days, weeks or months, the data is collected from the hard disk or system memory and is analyzed. The analyzed data is then used to control a process. In one example, the questions asked relate to a user's thermal comfort, and the data collected and analyzed is used to control a heating and cooling system.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for implementing a controller in a system having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. In one embodiment, the inventive method includes the steps of measuring a transfer function P, the measured transfer function P representing a neutralization path in a Q-parameterized version of the controller, and designing a transfer function Q, the designed transfer function Q representing the feed forward path in the Q-parameterized version of the controller. The invention further includes the step of sparsifying both the transfer functions P and Q for a given accuracy threshold using wavelet transforms, thereby forming transfer functions Ps and Qs respectively for implementing the controller.

Abstract: A method for spectrum analysis by complex cumulants comprises the steps of eceiving a signal, Fourier transforming the signal to form a series of complex Fourier coefficients, forming complex cumulants from the series of complex Fourier coefficients, and displaying the cumulants in a form wherein the non-Gaussian components of the signal are emphasized.

Abstract: A utility usage data gathering system that is universally capable of operating with any other portion of another usage gathering system is disclosed. The system comprises of major portions, the universal transponder or actual device that accumulates utility usage and will universally relay accumulated usage to any reader/interrogator, and the universal reader that will universally read its own transponder or any other transponder. The system is based on standard micro-electronic chips and uses the same chips and logic in both the reader/interrogator and transponder. Each portion of the system, when polled by a foreign device, will determine what communication protocol is required and will respond to collect or transmit utility usage data in the proper protocol. Both portions of the apparatus use switchable multi-tapped antennae, capable of universal matching in order to transceive the modulated electromagnetic wave which contains the utility usage data.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of an inaccessible portion of an electrical current carrying device that cannot be directly measured easily comprises circuits for establishing a reference temperature value in the vicinity of the current carrying device and measuring the power dissipated in the current carrying device, a digital computer having ports for inputting the reference temperature value, the power dissipated in the current carrying device, the thermal resistances and thermal time constants of the thermal model simulating the current carrying device to the reference temperature, and a program stored in the digital computer for continuously calculating a differential temperature based upon the power dissipation and thermal model and adding the reference temperature thereto.

Abstract: An array of touch sensors are brought in contact with a ball grid array. A linear actuator moves the array of touch sensors. The position of the linear actuator is known very precisely. As the touch sensors encounter the ball grid array, they provide a signal to a computer system that an element on the ball grid array has been encountered. The computer notes the position of the linear actuator and the particular sensor in the touch sensor array that is providing the signal. Initially, each touch sensor rests against a printed circuit board circuit with a conductive disk connecting the circuit in an unactuated position. In an actuated position, the circuit is broken by the touch sensor being forced away from the printed circuit board by the object encountered. Positive air pressure is provided against one side of the disk to press it against the contact points on the printed circuit board. An alignment plate helps prevent tilting of a touch sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the probable location of a fault causing a power outage in a power distribution system (20) having a power distribution grid (22) and a control station (24), the power distribution grid comprising a power source (26) connected to a plurality of terminal nodes (28) by grid branches (30), and corresponding protective devices (32), whose operation minimizes the deleterious effects of power outages. More specifically, method and apparatus are provided for determining distribution system information based on the power distribution grid (22). For each report that is thereafter received of a new power outage, a set of protective devices (32) that possibly operated in response to the fault is identified by upstream tracing from the terminal node (28) to the power source (26). Using "fuzzy set" theory, the possibility that each protective device operated is calculated.

Abstract: A resonator produces a signal which is processed by being digitized and demodulated. The processed signal is applied to a filter having three sections. The first is a lowpass filter, the second is a decimator, and the third is an equalizer filter. The lowpass filter filters out the high frequency components which would be aliased by the decimator. The equalizer filter performs whatever processing as is appropriate for the measurement which is sought. A second or subsequent equalizer filter may be driven by the first. The lowpass filter and the equalizer filters all have the same architecture of allpass filters, weighting elements, and adders. The weights applied to the weighting elements vary to perform the varied purposes of the various filters. The filtered signal is applied to a display, such as a human operator, or a device (such as an auto-pilot) either in or out of a feedback loop, or both.

Abstract: A low power mode of an integrated circuit (IC) 10 is tested via a test controller 50. The IC 10 is placed in a low power mode where a plurality of pins represented by the pins 82, 72, and 62 are isolated from the internal circuitry, such as CPU 30, via circuits 60, 70, and 80. It is difficult, if not impossible, to test the IC 10 when in a low power mode since all pins are isolated from external circuitry and all clocks are stopped. Therefore, in order to test the low power mode, the test controller 50 can be selectively taken-out of low power mode via a RESET IN signal while all other circuitry in the IC 10 remains in the isolated low power mode. Test controller 50 can then conduct logical low power internal testing of the IC 10 while it is in low power mode and isolated. This testing in done by communicating data via the DATA IN and DATA OUT pins in a serial scan chain manner.