Other

Fmc Corporation

International Remote Imaging Systems, Inc.

Dorrough Electronics

Harris Corporation

Logitech, Inc.

Iris International, Inc.

Perfect Point Edm Corporation

Gazelle Graphic Systems Inc.

Radio Connect Corporation

Walt Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Kenneth S Gold

H Maurice France

Harvey L Kasdan

Anthony Edward Zank

Richard K Gerlach

John P Pelmulder

Richard H Turner

Michael P Gibbons

Michael L Dorrough

Mervyn Rudgley

James Legge

David Alan Fridge

Michael N Gilano

Ken A Atterholt

Jon Frank Tindel

Michael F Kennedy

Glen Holt Humphrey

Alan Blair Lowell

Edmond R Pelta

Tom R Vandermeyden

Hubert M France, Jr

Kevin L Fenno

Jody D Gerstner

Marvin R Crummer

David G Johnson

James T Legge

The invention is a state machine having a host controller that controls a level-1 controller, wherein the level-1 controller controls the level-2 controller. The level-2 controller controls system component controllers, which in turn control system components to execute a process segment. For example, the machine includes a host controller that selects a set of states to be executed, a level-1 controller that activates the set of states in a predetermined order, wherein each state includes commands, and a level-2 controller that controls system components according to the commands. A method of executing a process includes identifying a set of states to be executed, issuing state commands that need to be issued to execute the current state in the set of states, and activating a next state only after all expected status reports have been received for the current state.

Multi-level controller system and method

The hand-held electro-discharge device to remove boluses of material from a workpiece. In some implementations a conductive electrode and its supporting ground pin are immersed in a dielectric fluid contained in a hood or cavity near or at the electrode's distal tip an removably sealed to a conductive workpiece. A flushing inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said hood provide a flushing fluid, which may also be a dielectric fluid to remove FOD and cool.

Advanced flushing for workpiece erosion

The hand-held electro-discharge machining fastener removal device of this invention brings an EDM electrode and its supporting ground pin and dielectric fluid structure to a fastener in a workpiece, such as an aircraft fuselage. The hand-held device brings the dielectric fluid, power supply, and control system structure to the fastener in a compact tool to permit EDM machining to be brought to large structures.

Hand-held electro-discharge device

The invention is a state machine having a host controller that controls a level-i controller, wherein the level-1 controller controls the level-2 controller. The level-2 controller controls system component controllers, which in turn control system components to execute a process segment. For example, the machine includes a host controller that selects a set of states to be executed, a level-1 controller that activates the set of states in a predetermined order, wherein each state includes commands, and a level-2 controller that controls system components according to the commands. A method of executing a process includes identifying a set of states to be executed, issuing state commands that need to be issued to execute the current state in the set of states, and activating a next state only after all expected status reports have been received for the current state.

Multi-level controller system

A particle analyzer that includes a specimen source, a flow cell, a pump and delivery tube for transporting specimen fluid from the specimen source to the flow cell, a dispensing valve for injecting stain from a stain source into the specimen fluid in the delivery tube, and a mixing device for mixing the stain and the specimen fluid together. The mixing device includes a cylindrical shaped member having an outer surface, a channel formed in the outer surface with the channel including circumferential and longitudinal turns, and a hollow mixing tube disposed in the channel. As the stain and the specimen fluid flow through the mixing tube, they travel through the circumferential and longitudinal turns and are mixed together. A fluid sensor employing a sensor RC circuit and a reference RC circuit detects capacitance changes in the delivery tube for detecting the presence or absence of fluid therein.

Particle analyzer with specimen tube fluid detector

Particle analyzer with specimen tube in-line mixer

A two-ended, line-driving and receiving/tone signal analysis system performs line connection verification applying a low-distortion, low-amplitude test signal to one end of a cable pair under test and monitoring the response of a remote end wireline pair. Preferably the test signal frequency is on the order of 110 Hz, which avoids domestic and foreign AC power signal frequencies and is spectrally equidistant from their harmonics. It also avoids ringing frequencies for POTS lines, and remains safely below the 350 Hz lower limit of POTS and other telephone line system services. In response to application of the 110 Hz test signal to tip and ring segments of a wireline pair at one end of the cable bundle, the energy of the 110 Hz component, as well as that of two other 'spectrally nearby' (slightly higher at 112 Hz and slightly lower at 108 Hz), are measured at a tip and ring pair at the far end of the cable plant. If the magnitude of a Fourier component of the received 110 Hz test signal for a Fourier correlation operation cycle (FCOC) is more than a prescribed differential greater than the magnitudes of the two nearby frequencies, it is inferred that the remote tip and ring pair is the same wire pair as the wireline pair at the one end of the cable, thereby identifying the two ends of the same wireline pair.

Two-ended wireline pair identification system

A positive-feedback go/no-go control system for an electric-vehicle ride (10) at an amusement park reliably communicates motion commands, vehicle-presence signals, and vehicle-status signals in the presence of high electrical noise and does so without the addition of expensive add-on equipment. The railway electric-vehicle ride includes an outbus (16) and an inbus (18) running along a railway (14). The positive-feedback go/no-go control system comprises a wayside control board (22) that provides a bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal (26) to the outbus. A control circuit (24) onboard the electric vehicle receives the bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal, amplitude modulates it at different frequencies that represent the electric vehicle's intended action, and provides the processed bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal (30, 32) to the inbus. The wayside control board receives the processed bipolar pulse-width-modulated command signal, bandpass filters the frequency components, and compares the filtered frequency components to predetermined thresholds to detect the presence and intended action of the vehicle.

Positive-feedback go/no-go communication system

A protocol for wireless direct user-to-user DSSS TDMA digital communication at a data rate of the order of one to several megabits per second in the 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz or 5725-5850 MHz band includes a sequence of transactions, each transaction consisting of a predetermined sequence of subpackets, and each subpacket consisting of a predetermined number of bytes preallocated to a subpacket element or element portion. Network communications among a plurality of stationary and/or mobile users such as personal computers, each equipped with a (Remote Unit) transceiver, are organized and directed by a Master Unit transceiver. Master Unit and Remote Unit transceivers have identical circuitry. Using a first pseudorandom code sequence (M-code), the Master Unit intermittently transmits a DSSS signal enabling Remote Units to synchronize to the Master Unit and so receive scheduling directives. A Remote Unit, while maintaining synchronization with the Master Unit, sends information by transmitting a DSSS signal using a second pseudorandom code sequence (R-code). To facilitate synchronization, the Master Unit also transmits a continuously running DSSS signal using a third pseudorandom code sequence (P-code) which is code-locked and phase-locked to the M-code. A transceiver implementing the protocol in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band includes a microprocessor, external data RAM, Control Logic Section, Analog Section, and Radiofrequency Section.

Wireless direct-sequence spread spectrum TDMA communications system

Electromagnetic position transducer having active transmitting stylus

For monitoring, metering and dynamically displaying key static and dynamic parameters of composite video signals and visually indicating compliance status relative to important system specifications, this electronic meter is particularly useful in connection with video cameras. In studio environments, the compliance indications supplement existing capabilities, and in remote locations where large, complex and costly CRT type waveform monitors are not feasible, the compactness of this video meter provides an unusual degree of picture quality assurance. A bar/graph type LED display provides two independent scale regions: a sync region dynamically displaying sync amplitude, and a picture region dynamically displaying average picture levels in a bar mode and peak levels in a dot mode. The response times of the sync, average and peak level are selectable. Peak indications are lengthened to a display time which is optimal for human response to short term events. A monochrome video meter embodiment displays average luminance levels in a bar mode and peak luminance levels in a dot mode. Presence/absence of sync is indicated by a bi-color LED. Additional parameter status may be indicated by a panel-mounted bi-color LED which provides four indication modes. For color video, a chrominance embodiment, used along with the monochrome embodiment and similarly packaged, displays color burst amplitude and average chrominance in a bar mode, peak chrominance in a dot mode, and optionally monitors color burst phase relative to horizontal sync.

Dynamic video luminance and chrominance meter

Disclosed is electromagnetic transducer that does not require complex analog to digital, digital to analog converters, microprocessors or large memory circuitry. The transducer has a helical tablet coil with tap nodes spaced between its end extremities. In one configuration, an oscillator drives the tablet coil for simultaneously producing oppositely directed currents on opposite sides of selected taps, creating a moving fringing field that is compatible with modern graphic display tablet technology. A control circuit of the transducer has a closed-loop integrator for detecting the centroid of a received stylus signal from a stylus coil. Analog and digital versions of the integrator are disclosed. In another configuration, the oscillator drives the stylus coil for variably coupling magnetic flux to the tablet coil, a receiver signal that is coupled from the end extremities being responsive to the position of the stylus coil and the taps selected. A preferred configuration of the tablet coil has separate oppositely wound coil components.

For supporting a variety of brochures, magazines, catalogs and other 'soft' reading material as well as hard-cover books in an upright position, this bookrack may be readily assembled by an unskilled person, without tools or additional fastening hardware, from only two configurations of economically manufactured parts: molded plastic partitions and base/back panels which can be readily extended in multiples by integral edge fastenings as well as individually shortened at scored breakoff lines to obtain a desired total length to permit retrofitting onto existing bookshelves. Keystone-shaped tabs on the partitions interlock with keyed slots in the panels to fasten the panels and partitions together, retained by a simple integral detent system. Panels and partitions are made as thin as practically possible to achieve high space efficiency, and all fastenings are concealed to eliminate obstructions that could interfere with reading material being accommodated in the bookrack.

Interlocking expandable bookrack

For supporting hard- and soft-covered books, magazines, catalogs and other reading material of various sizes and shapes in an upright position on a bookshelf, table or desktop, this bookrack may be stored or shipped in knocked-down form, easily assembled without need for tools or fastening hardware. Sheet metal divider plates are held parallel to each other by sheet metal bottom and rear spacers, attached to the dividers by concealed fastenings, the bottom spacers being held in place by the rear spacers, which are in turn held in place by gravity and friction, holding the bookrack together in an interlocked assembly. The bookrack may be easily retrofitted into an existing bookcase without need for tools, fastening hardware or modifications to the bookcase. Spacers, available in different widths, may be tandemed together to build up the bookrack to any desired total width.

Interlocking bookrack

A battery condition indicator and on-off relay circuit for electric guitars with on-board active electronics, adaptable to many other battery-operated appliances, includes an electronic relay circuit capable of disconnecting one or more batteries, under control of a pair of on-off contacts. A test interval timing circuit delays turnoff by about 10 seconds, during which a test of the battery (or batteries) is performed automatically under normal load by comparison to a precision reference voltage. Good battery condition is indicated by illumination of a light-emitting diode which may be located inside the guitar body, visible thru the opening of a standard audio output jack, which may include the on-off contacts, actuated by insertion or removal of the mating audio output plug. The circuit is particularly power-efficient to minimize battery drain.

Growing community of inventors

Bell Canyon, CA, United States of America

Kenneth S Gold