Abstract: Detection is implemented by a multiplier, a lookup table or other apparatus with two inputs, one of which typically receives an input signal from a sensor, and the other a reference or weighting factor W stored or generated locally. The detected value is added to the contents of a memory location A after the previous contents of memory locations A have been modified by a loss or gain factor Q. Memory location A is one of several such memory locations in a shared memory simultaneously accessible by an external user. In a neural engine the memory locations represent neurons. For each cycle of operation of the neural engine a new value of W, Q and A are provided.

Abstract: In a universal instrument for medical care a biocomputer is connected directly to the patient and uses sound and chemical spectrum analyzers to generate electronic signatures indicative of health conditions. The sound spectrum analyzer is an artificial cochlea that emulates a large number of tuned filters that operate in parallel and in real time. The chemical spectrum analyzer is a modified version of the well-known mass spectrometer. "Encyclopedic" knowledge and other computer aids are also included.

Abstract: The contents of an organic memory at an address A are multiplied by a quality factor Q and then added to a signal ID from a sensor or an external source of data, selected randomly and in real time, multiplied by a weight factor W. The sum obtained in this way is stored back at the same address A. The process is repeated for different values of ID, W, Q and A in a sequence that represents an evolution program. The result is a neural network with individually programmable, exponential output activation functions. Meanwhile the contents of the organic memory are simultaneously scanned by a CPU from a second port without the need for special access protocols or timing changes in either the organic memory or the CPU. Protocol-free, multi-ported memories facilitate the interfacing of multiprocessors and an address bus expansion circuit further reduces the need to access slow peripheral memories.

Abstract: In a video assist system, an intermittent composite video signal produced by a modified television camera from a motion-picture image is converted to a composite video output signal in a continuous television format, by writing a largely unprocessed intermittent signal (including composite color, intensity and timing information) into a field buffer and reading a continuous television output signal (including both control elements and data) from that field buffer. The field buffer may comprise multiplexed banks of static RAM, with separate read address and write address generators for reading and writing data independently. When a field is repeated on output, an even-lines field may follow a previous even-lines field or an odd-lines field may follow a previous odd-lines field.

Abstract: A computer architecture and compansion software are described which are intended to serve the needs of intelligence, simplicity and low cost. A major objective is to reduce the need for large memory capacity and computational "power."The computational hardware includes a standard central processing unit (or microprocessor) augmented by analog/digital computational hardware and data acquisition circuits that allow random access to and real time processing of data derived from environmental sensors.The multiprocessing hardware consists of portions of "cache" memory that are "dual-ported."The representational hardware consists of a vector generator.The software consists of a new "language" with minimal syntax requirements and representational features that are independent of scale. It shares features with LISP, FORTH and (Hewlett-Packard) RPL but uses a parsing "dispatcher" rather than an "evaluator.

Abstract: An Organic-Like Memory (OLM), i.e., one in which information already in storage is enhanced or degraded with each new access. The OLM typically consists of a conventional random access memory (RAM) embedded in an analog computer. The data D (typically a number of bits) already stored at a given address A in the RAM is modified rather than simply re-written every time a stimulus or other item of information S is entered in the OLM.When an item of information S is to be entered in OLM at address A, the following takes place: information S is multiplied by a weight factor W, yielding a first product; information D is read from RAM address A and multiplied by a quality factor Q, yielding a second product; the two products are added, and the result stored back at address A. The source and time of sampling of S, address A, weight factor W and quality factor Q are determined by a separate control circuit, in which the appropiate program can typically be loaded. Data in RAM can also be read in a conventional way.

Abstract: A camera for sensing image information and accurately and quickly reducing such information to a plurality of black and white analog voltages corresponding to pixels of a line image scan. A sensor of the CCD type generates a plurality of electron packets which are read out as two analog voltages. After d.c. restoration and normalization, the analog voltages are promptly converted to gray scale digital values to preserve maximum image information for subsequent processing. Thereafter, the digital signals are reordered to correspond to the physical ordering of the photocells of the sensor and applied to a hybrid digital filter for rapid hybrid (analog/digital filter) image enhancement.

Abstract: Vector (i.e., line) drawings represent the "intelligence" content of images.A method is disclosed for the gathering of intelligence and the generation of vectors on the screen of a CRT without the usual problems associated with cost and performance.The Vector Generator itself uses pairs of digital-to-analog converters with a common analog output. This technique is referred to as interpolation. Careful shaping of the complementary reference voltages of the digital-to-analog converters results in constant velocity, transient-free vectors with starting and end points that are accurately controlled. Cumulative (i.e., closure) errors are entirely absent.