Preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include a method of operating an automatic computing system to condition signals, for example to reduce transients and other noise, and apparatus for carrying out the method. The method includes detecting successive changes in a signal in one direction, limiting the changes to small amounts initially, and increasing the change limit permitted in response to sustained successive changes in the same direction.
This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 74,183, filed Sept. 21, 1970; which was copending with and a continuation of Ser. No. 844,688, filed Apr. 14, 1969; which was copending with and a division of Ser. No. 563,112, filed July 6, 1966, and issued on Oct. 7, 1969 as U. S. Pat. No. 3,471,278.
An analytical instrument employing ensemble averaging to improve the signal-to-noise ratio including means for determining the most efficient scaling factor and for controlling the instrument to maintain assurance of efficient averaging.
An apparatus for suppressing extreme-valued members of a discrete time series that consists of a set of floating-point numbers, each floating-point number having an algebraic sign, a true exponent, and a mantissa. The apparatus comprises a digital integrator means adapted to receive at its input the true exponents of the floating-point numbers to integrate them with respect to time. The integrator provides at its output an instantaneous value of the integrated exponents. Means are provided to add a preselected threshold quantity to the present value of the integrated exponents. Comparator means compare the true exponents with the sum of the present value of the integrated exponents plus threshold and select the lesser of the two compared quantities to define a scaled exponent.
A non-volatile memory stores values defining a released position or a depressed position of a clutch pedal. A potentiometer mechanically linked to the clutch pedal produces an output signal whose value or magnitude represents the current position of the clutch pedal. When power is turned on, first and second end limit values which electrically define the depressed and released positions of the clutch pedal are read from the memory, a constant value is added to the first end limit value and subtracted from the second. Thereafter, each time the output signal is sensed for control purposes, the output signal is compared with the end limit values. If the output signal is less than the first end limit value it replaces that value in the memory and if the output signal is greater than the second end limit value it replaces that value. The sensor is thus calibrated in a manner transparent to the operator each time the system samples the sensor output signal for control purposes. When either end limit value is changed, threshold values representing specified positions of the clutch pedal relative to its released or depressed position are recalculated and stored for subsequent use as control values.
A system for processing cyclic signal pairs generated by an optical transducer to provide an accurate measurement of the displacement of one member with respect to a reference is suitable for determining weight by measuring spring scale tare deflection. The system includes a pair of comparator Schmitt trigger circuits for shaping pulse waveform signals. The pulse signals are processed by fully clocked digital circuits including edge discriminators to generate multiple count pulses which are processed by combination logic for direction determination. Further processing includes sign determination (positive-negative) and zero identification circuits to provide up and down pulses which are filtered and fed to up/down counter stages. Counter stage information is decoded for feedback control and processing logic indication. The zero identification circuit facilitates an unambiguous zero reference indication by skipping one count at zero to provide a display sign change indication on either side of zero prior to incrementing display counts to better define true zero as an edge or line between successive displays rather than as a zone. In an alternate embodiment, zero transition indicators are provided by feeding the count pulses directly to an updown counter and utilizing the most significant counter bit to invert the counter outputs upon a transition through actual zero.
A method and apparatus for operating a textile machine, such as an automatic bobbin winder or an automatic spinning machine, include subdividing a course of operation into individual operating steps; monitoring at least one of the operating steps with at least one sensor for detecting presence, absence or movement past the sensor of an article connected to the textile machine or success or failure of a provision or an operating step and tripping an automatic intervention into the course of operation as a function of the outcome of the detection. According to the method, the functional capability of the sensor is automatically monitored, and an automatic switch over takes place from the operating program to a prepared substitute program no longer requiring the sensor for continued operation of the textile machine after failure of the sensor. The apparatus includes a device connected to the at least one sensor for operating the textile machine according to an operating program and a predetermined substitute program assuring continued operation of the textile machine even if the at least one sensor has failed. A device is connected to the operating device for automatically monitoring capability of the at least one sensor. A switchover device is connected to the monitoring device for switching over textile machine operation from the operating program to the substitute program after a failure of the at least one sensor ascertained by the monitoring device.
