Abstract: A machine control system, comprises at least first and second nodes of a wireless network in communication with each other, each node including a three axis accelerometer having a data output coupled to a respective sensor input of the node; and a hydraulic machine having a manifold and a plurality of hydraulic mechanisms coupled to respective outputs of the manifold, the manifold being responsive to electrical actuating signals provided from respective electrical outputs of the first node in response to gesture signals sent from the second node.

Abstract: A machine control system, comprises at least first and second nodes of a wireless network in communication with each other, each node including a three axis accelerometer having a data output coupled to a respective sensor input of the node; and a hydraulic machine having a manifold and a plurality of hydraulic mechanisms coupled to respective outputs of the manifold, the manifold being responsive to electrical actuating signals provided from respective electrical outputs of the first node.

Abstract: A machine control system, comprises at least first and second nodes of a wireless network in communication with each other, each node including a three axis accelerometer having a data output coupled to a respective sensor input of the node; and a hydraulic machine having a manifold and a plurality of hydraulic mechanisms coupled to respective outputs of the manifold, the manifold being responsive to electrical actuating signals provided from respective electrical outputs of the first node in response to gesture signals sent from the second node.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling the moisture content of soil deposited in a furrow during seed planting comprises tilling the soil to an adjustable depth to expose soil corresponding to a reference soil moisture setting, selecting covering soil from the exposed soil having a moisture content that matches the moisture content of the reference soil moisture setting, and depositing the covering soil over the seed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling the moisture content of soil deposited in a furrow during seed planting comprises tilling the soil to an adjustable depth to expose soil corresponding to a reference soil moisture setting, selecting covering soil from the exposed soil having a moisture content that matches the moisture content of the reference soil moisture setting, and depositing the covering soil over the seed.

Abstract: A machine control system, comprises at least first and second nodes of a wireless network in communication with each other, each node including a three axis accelerometer having a data output coupled to a respective sensor input of the node; and a hydraulic machine having a manifold and a plurality of hydraulic mechanisms coupled to respective outputs of the manifold, the manifold being responsive to electrical actuating signals provided from respective electrical outputs of the first node.

Abstract: These inventions are directed to methods and devices for enhancing agricultural production using low cost digital electronic spectral and/spatial analysis to determine the shortage of one or more nutrients. The preferred method is to take a spectral image of a healthy plant known to have a sufficient amount of the nutrient in question to form a “standard of comparison” and placing same in a digital memory, then taking a spectral image of a plant whose sufficiency of the nutrient is in question and comparing the coefficient of correlation of the two images at a plurality of points along short segments of the images to identify the nanometer range in which the correlation of coefficient is small to identify the nutrient in questions. Thereafter, the shortage of the specific nutrient in question can be ascertained by subsequent comparisons of field crops by looking at the specific nanometer range identified for the specific nutrient.

Abstract: Desulfation of a battery. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods of inducing ringing across terminals of a battery to reduce and/or reverse the build up sulfate crystals on the battery plates.

Abstract: A combined spectral and spatial sensing unit having a lens for receiving light from an object or substance and for directing at least a portion thereof through a diffraction device to an area imager for creating a digital spectral image of a plurality of segments of different wave lengths of light on a first set of pixels of said imager and for creating a digital spatial image on a second set of pixels of said imager, and an analytical unit having a microprocessor for receiving each of said images and comparing same to images stored in a memory associated with said microprocessor to determine the identity, condition or other information about the object or substance. Alternatively, a portion of said light may be directed through a diffraction grating to a first imager and another portion to a second imager, each of which is associated with a microprocessor for determining the identity, condition or other information about the object or substance.

Abstract: A portable high speed, low cost, wide spectrum light scanning unit with an aiming device for receiving reflected light from an object and diffracting the light into segments of wavelengths and a linear sensor array having elements positioned to receive the segments and to measure the relative magnitude of such segments to define a spectral distribution of the object for transmission to a remote site for identification and/or analysis without augmentation. In addition, the specification discloses the use of a micro-controller to process the distribution and to identify and/or analyze the object.

Abstract: A high speed, low cost, apparatus and method of identification, examination of objects and quality control of manufactured parts and sheet materials, the apparatus including a comparator having memory storage of data representative of the surface of a first “standard” spatial linear distribution of light and memory storage of data representative of another portion of the surface, and including an algorithm for comparing data of the standard with data representative of the second spatial linear distribution of light reflected from a surface to determine if there is a correlation between the two spatial distributions.

Abstract: A portable high speed, low cost, wide spectrum light scanning unit with an aiming device for receiving reflected light from an object and diffracting the light into segments of wavelengths and a linear sensor array having elements positioned to receive the segments and to measure the relative magnitude of such segments to define a spectral distribution of the object for transmission to a remote site for identification and/or analysis without augmentation. In addition, the specification discloses the use of a micro-controller to process the distribution and to identify and/or analyze the object.

Abstract: A high speed, low cost, wide spectrum light scanning and sensor unit (10) for receiving reflected light from an object and diffracting the light into segments of wavelengths and a linear sensor array (32) having elements positioned to receive the segments and to measure the relative magnitude of such segments to define a spectral distribution of the object together with a digital identifier-controller (36) connected to said sensing device and having a memory for memorizing a spectral distribution of light representing a first standard object, and additional memory for receiving a spectral distributions of other objects and programmable logic circuitry containing a program for determining the similarity between the standard object and the other objects.

Abstract: A high speed, low cost, apparatus and method of identification, examination of objects and quality control of manufactured parts and sheet materials, the apparatus including a comparator having memory storage of data representative of the surface of a first “standard” spatial linear distribution of light and memory storage of data representative of another portion of the surface, and including an algorithm for comparing data of the standard with data representative of the second spatial linear distribution of light reflected from a surface to determine if there is a correlation between the two spatial distributions.

Abstract: A high speed, low cost, wide spectrum light scanning and sensor unit (10) for receiving reflected light from an object and diffracting the light into segments of wavelengths and a linear sensor array (32) having elements positioned to receive the segments and to measure the relative magnitude of such segments to define a spectral distribution of the object together with a digital identifier-controller (36) connected to said sensing device and having a memory for memorizing a spectral distribution of light representing a first standard object, and additional memory for receiving a spectral distributions of other objects and programmable logic circuitry containing a program for determining the similarity between the standard object and the other objects.

Abstract: A device for detecting and locating substrates in a cassette including a homogeneous columnar radiation source adjacent to and radiating the edges of the substrates, rod-shaped directional lenses transmitting and replicating the substrate edges in their field of view and directing the transmitted reflected radiation and image of the field of view onto sensing pixels activated to produce indications of the presence and location of the substrates in the cassette.

Abstract: An array of light sensors is integrated with a circuit to control the selection of each light selector and to digitized the amplitude of the light impinging on each sensor. Each light sensor is addressable by an external microprocessor.

Abstract: An edge detector includes a pair of integrated light sensors, a pair of log amplifiers and a comparator amplifier, having a hysteresis voltage applied thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an automatic loading/unloading material mover. The mover includes a wheeled vehicle having a tiltable bed with a live floor and a non-driven wheel and is used to load and unload heavy objects, such as cotton modules. Pulse-generating magnetic sensors are used to measure the displacement of both the non-driven wheel, and hence the vehicle, and the live floor. The displacement of the live floor is controlled by the synchronization system and method which includes a digital processor to match the displacement of the vehicle so that heavy modules being loaded or unloaded are not torn apart.

Abstract: A dual peak detector circuit containing a first circuit for receiving the input voltage and storing the maximum value of the input voltage and a second circuit for receiving the input voltage and storing the minimum value of the input voltage. Both are connected to third circuit which also receives the input voltage and provides an output when the input voltage transitions from the maximum input value to the minimum input value. When the input voltage transitions from the minimum input value to the maximum output value, the third circuit alters the output to indicate the input voltage change.