Touch Controls, Inc.

Eaton Leonard Technologies, Inc.

Joseph John Kirby

George M Dudash

Roberto E Frulla

A photoelectric sensor array apparatus and method, relates to at least two photoelectric rail elements each having alternating light emitting diode transmitters and photo detecting receivers. The array produces a plurality of light devices with corresponding sensors, whereby the light beams are blocked in the region where an opaque object is located. Each rail contains both transmitters and receivers so that control circuits for the transmitters and receivers are substantially identical and mounted on opposite sides of the array apparatus, to provide a more compact unit of higher resolution and to reduce the design and manufacturing costs. Such construction and method enable the sensing array apparatus to function in direct sunlight or other such photoelectric saturation conditions, which would otherwise blind conventional light sensitive sensor arrays.

Photoelectric sensing array apparatus and method of using same

A voice input system has a microphone coupled to a computing device, with the computing device typically operating a computer software application. A user speaks voice commands into the microphone, with the computing device operating a voice command module that interprets the voice command and causes the graphical or non-graphical application to be commanded and controlled consistent with the use of a physical mouse. In one form of the invention, voice commands are overlayed on normal command points of the application program. Such voice commands are stored in a separate voice command repository, with an edit mode provided to create new voice command sequences and to edit existing voice command sequences.

Voice input system and method of using same

A process control system for monitoring and controlling elements of a process. A control unit is electrically connected to a multi-conductor cable upon which are removably connected in series configuration a plurality of serially addressable control modules. The control modules are removably connected to elements of the controlled process to permit monitoring and control of the elements. The modules may be readily connected to or removed from the process elements and multi-conductor cable, to permit expansion or modification of the control system as needed for proper use in controlling process systems. The control modules operate independently from outside signals in monitoring the process elements, and respond to selected element status conditions by accessing communication with the central controller on a priority basis over other control modules in the system. The control unit includes a touch sensitive video screen for providing information to an receiving instructions from a user. The information and its configuration presented on the screen may be easily modified by user interaction with the screen, to quickly accommodate control system changes.

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Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

Joseph John Kirby