Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring displacements of a rotary or linearly-displaceable member by counting periods of displacement thereof along a predetermined displacement path, including a pulse generator located at a pulse-generation station proximate to the displacement path; and an electrical circuit controlled by the pulse generator to actuate a first sensor to sense the status of the displaceable member at the particular instant one of said second machine-sensible elements passes through the pulse-generation station, and to increment a counter in accordance with said status determination.

Abstract: An optical encoder for measuring the rotary angle of a rotating shaft comprising an electronic board with light emitter and light sensor means disposed between a pair of overlying light guides having a common symmetry axis that coincides with the shaft rotation axis, the light guides receiving light from a light emitter means on the electronic board and returning light to a light sensor means the electronic board; an optical pattern of two concentric annular sections attached to the rotating shaft and an optical pattern of two concentric annular sections on a stationary device. A method for measuring the rotary angle of the rotating shaft by emitting light from the electronic board into the light guides and processing the signals received on the electronic board from light rays returning through the light guides after interacting with the said optical patterns.

Abstract: An encoder and method for precisely indicating the position of a first member with respect to a second member by utilizing a pattern of machine-sensible elements carried on a track of the first member; the machine-sensible elements being located at successive incremental rotations on the track of the first member and each representing one of the binary values “0” and “1”; and a plurality of “n” sensors, wherein “n” is greater than “3”, carried by the second member at a plurality of spaced locations thereon in proximity to the track of the first member and alignable with the machine-sensible elements of the first member. Each sensor thus senses the binary value of each machine-sensible element with which it is aligned to produce an output corresponding to the binary value of the machine-sensible element with which it is aligned, whereby the outputs of all the sensors constitute a binary code, preferably a Gray code, of “n” bits identifying the position of the first member with respect to the second member.

Abstract: System and method for detecting the inclusion of strings of words (records) in an input string of words. In a preparation phase, the records are pre-processed. Each record is represented by a string of chunks, each chunk composed of a pre-defined number of words. Each chunk found in at least one record is assigned a number of attributes, such as a “Begin of Record” attribute and an “End of Record” attribute. In the searching phase the input string is also divided in chunks, and for each input chunk, an Incremental Hash Function (IHF) is calculated for comparing with a prerecorded value ?I. If the two values IHF and ?I coincide for matching chunks with certain predefined attributes, a “probable match” is set, indicating a very high probability that a chunk was found in the records.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly and a method for measuring a rotation angle in which optical beams are spread over the circumference of a rotating optical disk by means of optical guides (OG). In the preferred embodiment the rotating optical disk has a pair of concentrically arranged circular patterns with alternating transparent and opaque sections. Each beam is input via optical fibers to one of a pair of concentrically disposed OGs with a cylindrical shape (COGs) respectively and propagated through the optical disk to be reflected by a mirror with two concentrically disposed circular patterns of reflective and non reflective sections, reentering the COG through the optical disk in a reverse direction. The COGs then guide the light beams back to an electronic interface that converts the optical signals into electronic signals producing position information.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly and a method for measuring a rotation angle in which optical beams are spread over the circumference of a rotating optical disk by means of optical guides (OG). In the preferred embodiment the rotating optical disk has a pair of concentrically arranged circular patterns with alternating transparent and opaque sections. Each beam is input via optical fibers to one of a pair of concentrically disposed OGs with a cylindrical shape (COGs) respectively and propagated through the optical disk to be reflected by a mirror with two concentrically disposed circular patterns of reflective and non reflective sections, reentering the COG through the optical disk in a reverse direction. The COGs then guide the light beams back to an electronic interface that converts the optical signals into electronic signals producing position information.

Abstract: A system for checking the presence of one or several words from a given list in an input put string of subwords. The list of words is stored in a memory array comprising one comparator for each memory cell storing one subword. The string is divided in sub-strings. Each sub-string is loaded several times unto a compare register, each time being roll-shifted by one sub-word. At each memory cell, simultaneous comparisons are made with the input sub-string. A logic circuit for each memory cell detects consecutive matching of sub words of the string with the sub-words of a word of the list. Whenever a match occurs for a full word of the list, a signal is set for for this word. A List Match signal is set, and a priority encoder may be used to output the address (position) of one of the matching words.

Abstract: A system and method to eliminate the influence of Dead Time delay in a PWM driven system. The system is implemented using a switching control circuit to operate a pair of upper and lower switching devices in a standard half-bridge arrangement, wherein both a PWM pulse train input and the direction of current flow (current command direction) are both utilized to operate the switching devices. Depending on the direction of the current command, the PWN pulse train input is directly applied to control one of the switching devices (the first switching device), while the second switching device is kept open at least during the closing time of the first switching device. Thus, a precise average PWM output volgate can be obtained, independent of the Dead Time delay, so that a large Dead Time can be used, to provide a precise voltage output over the full range of the DC power supply, while maintaining high reliability.

Abstract: A high-resolution position sensor device for use in precise positioning of servomechanisms, by providing increased resolution using of an encoder mounted on the shaft of a motor, which produces transition pulses through a light-sensitive arrangement using a photodetector. Each time the pulse makes a transition because the groove of the encoder wheel has passed, a reset signal is produced which resets to zero the number of clock pulses which have been measured for that interval between the transition pulses. The transition pulses and the time between them changes with changes in motor speed, while the system clock pulse rate remains fixed. The invention provides a more accurate position sensor, which operates by generating more transition pulses than the encoder itself actually generates. If the encoder produces transition pulses at a given resolution, the sensor device produces output pulses having a higher resolution.

Abstract: A system and method to eliminate the influence of Dead Time delay in a PWM driven system. The system is implemented using a switching control circuit to operate a pair of upper and lower switching devices in a standard half-bridge arrangement, wherein both a PWM pulse train input and the direction of current flow (current command direction) are both utilized to operate the switching devices. Depending on the direction of the current command, the PWM pulse train input is directly applied to control one of the switching devices (the first switching device), while the second switching device is kept open at least during the closing time of the first switching device. Thus, a precise average PWM output voltage can be obtained, independent of the Dead Time delay, so that a large Dead Time can be used, to provide a precise voltage output over the full range of the DC power supply, while maintaining high reliability.

Abstract: A high-resolution position sensor device for use in precise positioning of servomechanisms, by providing increased resolution using of an encoder mounted on the shaft of a motor, which produces transition pulses through a light-sensitive arrangement using a photodetector. Each time the pulse makes a transition because the groove of the encoder wheel has passed, a reset signal is produced which resets to zero the number of clock pulses which have been measured for that interval between the transition pulses. The transition pulses and the time between them changes with changes in motor speed, while the system clock pulse rate remains fixed. The invention provides a more accurate position sensor, which operates by generating more transition pulses than the encoder itself actually generates. If the encoder produces transition pulses at a given resolution, the sensor device produces output pulses having a higher resolution.

Abstract: A memory system includes an array of memory cells with a Bit Mask circuit provided in each memory cell. The memory system also includes a bus circuit with a set of Address Bus lines, a set of Data Bus lines, a set of Origin Bus lines and a set of Control lines, each memory cell being connected to each of the sets of lines. In a first operating mode, the system stores data applied on the Address Bus. In a second operating mode, a memory cell having a position defined by the Address Bus outputs on the Data Bus the data stored in that cell. In a third operating mode, the searched data is applied on the Address Bus and each memory cell with matching data outputs on the Data Bus a value representing the Address of the memory cell. However, the cell address is output on the Data Bus only where the position of that particular memory cell is the closest, in a predefined direction, to the data set on the Origin Bus among all the cells with matching data.

Abstract: An improved method for controlling a servomechanism, applicable to nearly all types of servomechanism control systems. The inventive method improves the performance of servomechanism control systems which utilize a digital feedback sensor by enabling the gain to be varied. The variable gain allowed by the inventive method enables tighter control, and better performance.

Abstract: A method for the direct teaching of automatic machinery systems, comprising a plurality of arms and of corresponding actuators for equilibrating the arms against payloads and displacing them to operative positions, when desired, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing the system in a reference configuration, equilibrating its arms, and memorizing for each arm the reference torque to be produced by the corresponding motor to maintain the arm in its reference position; (b) when it is wished to carry out the teaching, placing the system in the Teach mode; (c) applying an external force to an arm of the system in the direction desired for the purpose of the teaching; (d) for each arm, determining the actual torque required to maintain the arm in its reference position in spite of the application of said operator force; (e) calculating a displacement torque as the difference between said reference and said actual torque; (f) causing the motor to displace the arm in the direction of said displacement torque and b

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for a system having a multisensor optical module with a large aperture angle, 180 degrees or more possible (360 degrees around), and an electronic interface which outputs two video or digital images of the scene. The first image is a high resolution representation of the entire field of view reconstructed from the partial views of each sensor. The second image is a high resolution representation of a selected part of the scene (window), the dimension and position of which can be interactively commanded through a communication port. The size and location of the window may be changed at every frame (typically every 1/30th of a second). The window field of view can cover the field of view of several adjacent sensors while the resulting image will remain continuous and undistorted. An arbitrary number of windows can be obtained with a unique optical sensor by adding electronic modules to the interface apparatus.

Abstract: Programmable safety electrical socket controller apparatus for controlling operation of an electrical socket by distinguishing between an actual electrical load and a false load created by human contact, thereby substantially eliminating the risk of electrocution. The controller initially operates in a standby mode wherein the rated voltage of the electrical power system is effectively disconnected from the socket terminals. A data value group representing the electrical characteristics of the connected load is obtained at safe voltage levels and these are examined by a microprocessor, in which there is stored a set of electrical characteristics based on known physiological data relating to the human body.