Abstract:
A system and method for determining a state of a traffic signal. In one embodiment, a traffic signal state detector includes a lens, a color sensor, and a processor. The color sensor is configured to identify a plurality of colors of light directed to the color sensor by the lens, and a field of view of the color sensor is restricted based on dimensions of a traffic signal. The processor is coupled to the color sensor. The processor is configured to determine a color of light emitted by the traffic signal based on the colors of light identified by the color sensor.
Abstract:
A microprocessor-controlled are welding power supply is disclosed. A silicon controlled rectifier ("SCR") bank is used to generate a direct current arc welding current under program control. Positive synchronization is provided by the microprocessor using a phase locked loop and a polarity detector, so that the gating signals applied to the SCRs are correctly timed. Optimum tradeoffs between hardware and software are accomplished by using look up tables to store correction factors that can be quickly accessed during execution, and by using timers as smart interface chips to fire the SCRs at the same angle during each cycle until changed or updated by the microprocessor. The arc welding power supply is capable of operating in a constant current or constant voltage mode without rewiring the circuit.
Abstract:
A microprocessor-controlled arc welding power supply is disclosed. A silicon controlled rectifier ("SCR") bank is used to generate a direct current arc welding current under program control. Positive sychronization is provided by the microprocessor using a phase locked loop and a polarity detector, so that the gating signals applied to the SCRs are correctly timed. Optimum tradeoffs between hardware and software are accomplished by using look up tables to store correction factors that can be quickly accessed during execution, and by using timers as smart interface chips to fire the SCRs at the same angle during each cycle until changed or updated by the microprocessor. The arc welding power supply is capable of operating in a constant current or constant voltage mode without rewiring the circuit.
Abstract:
A method for seismic exploration using nonlinear conversions between electromagnetic and seismic energy, with particular attention to the electromagnetic source waveform used. According to the invention, seismic returns from a source waveform are correlated with a reference waveform, with both waveforms custom designed to minimize both correlation side lobes and interference from linear electroseismic effects. A waveform element is selected which may be sequenced by a binary or similar digital code embodying the desired custom design to generate an input sweep with the needed depth penetration and noise suppression. Correlation of the seismic response with the reference waveform in a data processing step mathematically aggregates the seismic response from the input sweep into a single wavelet. Preferred binary digital codes include prescribed variations of maximal length shift-register sequences. Also, an apparatus for generating the desired waveforms.
Abstract:
A device for controlling a traffic light, where the controlling of the traffic light is dependent upon receipt and recognition of vibrations. The device includes a vibration receiver for detecting vibrations transmitted through the ground, a processor for converting one or more of the vibrations into a control signal and a controller to trigger a traffic light in response to the control signal. The device may also include a vibration generator, e.g., at least one channel or groove in a traffic-bearing surface. The vibration generator preferably facilitates the production of a pattern of vibrations when the tire of a vehicle passes over the vibration generator. Further, the device may include a vibration receiver, capable of detecting a pattern of vibrations and producing a pattern of signals corresponding to said pattern of vibrations.
Abstract:
A traffic violation processing method is disclosed, which includes the steps of monitoring a vehicle; determining whether the vehicle is in violation of a traffic violation and recording the image of the vehicle on a camera when the vehicle is determined to have violated a traffic violation; providing a digital image of the vehicle; recording and storing deployment data corresponding to the violation, wherein the deployment data includes an identifier associated with the traffic violation; assigning the identifier to the digital traffic image; storing the digital image of the vehicle, together with the identifier, on a storage medium; matching the deployment data with the stored digital image by correlating or matching the identifier associated with the deployment data with the identifier associated with the stored digital image; and generating a traffic document that includes the stored digital image and the deployment data.
Abstract:
A device for controlling a traffic light, where the controlling of the traffic light is dependent upon receipt and recognition of vibrations. The device includes a vibration receiver for detecting vibrations transmitted through the ground, a processor for converting one or more of the vibrations into a control signal and a controller to trigger a traffic light in response to the control signal. The device may also include a vibration generator, e.g., at least one channel or groove in a traffic-bearing surface. The vibration generator preferably facilitates the production of a pattern of vibrations when the tire of a vehicle passes over the vibration generator. Further, the device may include a vibration receiver, capable of detecting a pattern of vibrations and producing a pattern of signals corresponding to said pattern of vibrations.
Abstract:
Frequency domain processing is used to determine rapidly whether false signals are present, and to improve the accuracy of speed measurements by rejecting speed measurements that could be inaccurate due to the presence of false signals. A Doppler signal responsive to speed of a moving vehicle is generated by a Doppler radar transceiver. A digital computer transforms the Doppler signal into a frequency domain signal such as an energy spectrum, and the speed of the moving vehicle is computed from the weighted arithmetic mean of the energy spectrum. The mean value, however, is rejected as an indication of speed if the variance of the energy spectrum from the mean exceeds a threshold, or if a differential of the spectrum with respect to frequency exceeds a threshold. The frequency domain processing of the present invention can also be used to reject certain bands of frequencies in the Doppler signal, such as bands of frequencies that differ from the mean value by more than a threshold, and the mean value can then be recomputed to provide an even better indication of the speed of the moving vehicle. Moreover, speed samples computed from successive frames of spectrum can be averaged, and the average value can be rejected as an indication of speed if the variance of the speed samples about the average value exceeds a threshold, or if the difference between successive speed samples exceeds a threshold.
Abstract:
A microprocessor-controlled arc welding power supply is disclosed. An silicon controlled rectifier ("SCR") bank is used to generate a direct current arc welding current under program control. Positive sychronization is provided by the microprocessor using a phase locked loop and a polarity detector, so that the gating signals applied to the SCRs are correctly timed. Optimum tradeoffs between hardware and software are accomplished by using look up tables to store correction factors that can be quickly accessed during execution, and by using timers as smart interface chips to fire the SCRs at the same angle during each cycle until changed or updated by the microprocessor. The arc welding power supply is capable of operating in a constant current or constant voltage mode without rewiring the circuit.
Abstract:
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a sensor system for detecting a change in condition. The system includes a radioactive source. This system also includes at least one radiation detector configured to detect radiation from the radioactive source. Furthermore, the system includes a displacement assembly configured to physically displace in response to the change in condition and configured to change the radiation levels detected by the radiation detector in response to such displacement. Advantageously, this system facilitates non-intrusive communication of information across a physical barrier, via the measurement of changing radiation levels that change in response to a change in condition, for example.