Abstract: The electrical energy source includes a portable enclosure that houses at least one battery pack, at least one battery charger, at least one AC inverter and, optionally, a regeneration device that can power the battery charger. Operation of batteries, AC inverters and regeneration unit is coordinated by a control circuit. During operations under a load, the batteries supply an input to AC inverters which in turn provide voltage regulated AC power to the load. When the batteries have discharged to a predetermined level, the load is removed from the AC inverters, and a dedicated on-board inverter is used to power the regeneration unit which recharges the batteries. Once the batteries have been recharged, the AC inverters are again made available to the load.

Abstract: The electrical energy source includes a portable enclosure that houses at least one battery pack, at least one battery charger, at least one AC inverter and, optionally, a regeneration device that can power the battery charger. Operation of batteries, AC inverters and regeneration unit is coordinated by a control circuit. During operations under a load, the batteries supply an input to AC inverters which in turn provide voltage regulated AC power to the load. When the batteries have discharged to a predetermined level, the load is removed from the AC inverters, and a dedicated on-board inverter is used to power the regeneration unit which recharges the batteries. Once the batteries have been recharged, the AC inverters are again made available to the load.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of bowling lanes and a plurality of bowling scoring systems each connected to a manager's control system. A video distribution system includes a memory device for storing data representing a plurality of video segments and generating video signals. A plurality of video display terminals are remotely located from the manager's control system and are operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal. A video communication network connects to the memory device and the display terminals. The manager's control system responds to a selection for a particular video segment to transmit a video signal to convey video segment information responsive to data read from the memory device to a selected one of the video display terminals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video recording and playback techniques and devices which create relative movement between a laser and an optical medium such as a flexible optical tape to permit the recording of different bandwidth signals. Further, the present invention relates to video recording and playback techniques and devices which optimize relative movement between a laser source and the optical medium in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pin setting device for each lane, a pin setter control unit, a game scoring control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. A manager's control system provides accounting control over the bowling center system and is operable to communicate with a selected game control unit as necessary. A plurality of remote terminals are provided associated with selected ones of the lane pair control systems. Each remote terminal system includes a keyboard and a display monitor. The remote terminal operates under the control of the game unit to allow a user thereof to enter requests for video displays. The video displays include, the example, ball trajectory displays which illustrate the path of the ball in the bowling lane, or dynamic displays, such as for training, generated by video source devices associated with the manager's control system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for high speed reading of multiple data tracks stored on an optical recording medium, such as a flexible optical tape. Data can be accurately read in the presence of position and alignment errors illuminating plural tracks of the optical recorded medium with an expanded light beam.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pin setting device for each lane, a pin setter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pin setter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane. A manager's control system is coupled to each of the lane pair control systems and includes a bowler input station similar to the game control unit bowler input station.

Abstract: In an image correlation calculation apparatus for optically calculating correlations between reference patterns and an image such as a character or any other figure, the image such as the character or any other figure subjected to correlation calculations is optically multiplied by a multiplier to form simultaneously in parallel a plurality of optical pattern images of a substantially identical shape, and optical correlation calculation between the plurality of optical pattern images and the reference patterns formed on various types of reference masks is performed individually and instantaneously, the various type of reference masks being arranged at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the plurality of optical pattern image, thereby detecting beams emitted through the various types of reference masks.

Abstract: In an apparatus for extracting primitive patterns included in an image such as a character or any other figure, the image subjected to primitive pattern extraction is optical multiplied by a multiplier to form simultaneously in parallel a plurality of optical pattern images of a substantially identical shape, and optical correlation calculation between the plurality of optical pattern images and the primitive patterns which are formed in the various types of primitive masks is performed individually and instantaneously, the various type of primitive masks being arranged at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance therefrom, thereby detecting beams emitted through the various types of primitive masks. Image multiplication, optical correlation calculation between the primitive pattern and the optical pattern image, and transmission of the result of the optical correlation calculation to the photosensors can be simultaneously performed at the light propagation speed.

Abstract: In a mask for transmitting a light subjected to a projection on a predetermined position and for detecting the light, transmittances of the mask are distributed in correspondence with a statistical distribution of the predetermined positions of the light. Information represented by optical signals can be detected with a high probability.

Abstract: In an image recognition apparatus for identifying an input image such as a character, any other graphic pattern or the like by comparing the input image with a plurality of reference image, an optical image recognition means simultaneously performs image information detection processing of a plurality of optical pattern images of substantially an identical shape obtained by multiplying the input image, thereby detecting a plurality of image information data corresponding to the plurality of optical pattern images and hence identifies the input image. When the input image cannot be identified by the optical image recognition means, an electronic image recognition means performs digital correlation calculations for limited ones of the reference images according to the above image information data. Therefore, image recognition can be performed by an inexpensive apparatus at high speed, and a high throughput can be obtained. In addition, a high recognition rate can be obtained.

Abstract: A vector display apparatus includes a display panel as a display screen for a vector subjected to discrimination. The display panel comprises display elements arranged in a matrix form. The display elements at positions corresponding to an input vector signal are selectively turned on to display an optical pattern corresponding to magnitudes of the vector components without displaying numerical values.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for enlarging or reducing an image pattern, wherein the image pattern and a pair of parallel image sensors are moved relative to each other to read the image pattern, the size of the image pattern along the moving direction is calculated on the basis of an output from one image sensor, a read clock frequency of the other image sensor is controlled on the calculated size of the image pattern, and thus enlargement or reduction of the image pattern along the moving direction can be easily performed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for analyzing local features of a character or any other figures, an extraction of the local features is performed by correlation calculations using a plurality of first reference masks, an analysis associated with combinations of the extracted local feature is performed by pattern matchings using a plurality of second reference masks, and the extraction and the analysis are performed optically and simultaneously with respect to the plurality of reference masks, respectively. Therefore, the local features analysis can be performed at high speed and accurately.

Abstract: In an apparatus for serially performing simultaneous feature processing and similarity discrimination of an image such as a character or any other figure, an input image is multiplied by a first multiplier into a plurality of optical pattern images which are respectively supplied to means for detecting different types of projection features. The means for detecting different types of projection features simultaneously performs different types of projection operations of the input image. The optical pattern image obtained by converting a vector corresponding to the different types of projection features is displayed on a vector display. The optical pattern image displayed on the display is multiplied by a second multiplier into optical images which are then respectively supplied to different types of reference masks. Optical pattern matching between the optical images from the second multiplier and the different types of reference patterns is simultaneously performed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for preprocessing of character recognition so as to obtain data necessary for character recognition, page segmentation is performed by simultaneously extracting a plurality of features, separation between lines, separation between characters, and separation between the lines and the characters are simultaneously performed, and a calculation time for normalizing the separated individual characters can be reduced, thereby performing proprocessing required for character recognition systematically at high speed.

Abstract: An optical data card random access information system featuring a data card with data tracks transverse to the lengthwise direction of motion of the card in a transport. An electromechanical actuator, having an arm parallel to the tracks, supports a light source for illuminating a track as well as a charge coupled device linear array detector for reading data. Light is directed onto a desired track to be read and preferably the entire track is imaged onto elements of the detector array so that an entire track may be read simultaneously. The card is supported by a carriage which advances the card in the card's lengthwise direction under control of a motor. The lengthwise motion of the card places any desired track under the actuator arm, while crosswise motion of the arm is able to place the track within the field of view of the detector.