Abstract: A hinge construction especially for a vehicle seat comprises a pair of hinged plates for attachment to the seat base and backrest. One plate rotatably mounts a disc which is formed with a slot of spiral configuration and the other plate is provided with a pin which is received in the slot so that turning of the disc causes relative hinging of the plates.

Abstract: A monitoring circuit for digital circuits is disclosed. The monitor is primarily applicable to digital circuits which operate in a cyclic mode with the digital patterns generated during each cycle being repeated in a predictable manner. A predetermined number of expected bit patterns are stored in a programmable memory. The stored bit patterns correspond on a bit-by-bit basis to the bit patterns generated by the circuit being monitored when this circuit is operating normally. In the self-scan mode each pattern generated by the circuit being monitored is compared to each of the patterns stored in the memory in a sequential manner. Each time a pattern generated by the circuit being monitored is found to identically correspond to a pattern stored in the memory a valid pattern pulse is generated which steps a down counter one count.

Abstract: A digital monitor for monitoring the operation of a synchronous digital system. Proper operation of the monitored digital system is determined by storing a predetermined sequence of digital numbers in a memory. The bit patterns generated by the system being monitored are utilized as addresses to read the stored digital numbers. After each read cycle the digital number read from the memory is examined to determine if it has the proper value. If the value is not proper, a memory is set indicating that the system being monitored has malfunctioned. Additionally, the number of bit patterns checked during each cycle of the system is determined. If the correct number of patterns are not checked, the memory is also set indicating that a malfunction has occurred. Apparatus for monitoring a selected number of analog signals such as power supply voltages is also provided. Either of these tests may be inhibited by signals from the system being monitored or by signals from an external source.

Abstract: A system for evaluating members or a family of similar devices by comparing images of a model device to the image of the member to be evaluated is disclosed. An image of the model device is first produced and stored in a memory. An image of the member to be evaluated is produced as the stored image of the model device is simultaneously reproduced. The images of the model and the member being evaluated are compared to generate a comparison signal related to the differences therebetween. The comparison signal is sampled at a predetermined rate, to produce a digital signal indicating sample points where the comparison signal exceeds a predetermined value. Statistical techniques are used to analyze the digital signal to determine which portions of this signal correspond to significant differences between the images of the model device and the member being evaluated.

Abstract: A system for evaluating similar object by comparing an image of the objects to be evaluated to the image of a similar object is disclosed. The system utilizes a TV camera to generate and store in a video memory an image of a reference member of the family of objects to be evaluated. This reference member has been previously evaluated by other means to determine that it meets predetermined specifications. An image of the member to be evaluated is then generated by focusing the TV camera on this member. Simultaneously, the stored image of the reference member is read from the video memory. These two images are compared to each other by an analog circuit to generate an analog signal related to the difference between these two signals. Sync signals are also generated by the memory to control the TV camera and a line counter which indicates which lines of the TV images are being compared.