摘要:
A gas sensor usable in harsh environments includes a multiple chamber radiant energy transmission path which extends between a multi-channel emitter and a multi-channel detector. Chamber length and gas selection are establishable using a movable element with an aperture. The element is located between the emitter and the detector on the transmission path. Radiant energy from the emitter is reflected between the emitter and the element, prior to passing through the element to impinge on the detector.
摘要:
A voice recognition interactive conversational apparatus employs temporally related data storage tracks containing interactive conversational content. The conversational content is stored on each track in information segments. Each of the segments forms a complete message reproducible in response to the selection of the track upon which the segments are stored. Each information segment includes interrogatories having vocal responses, responsive messages, informational messages, or combinations thereof related in time and content to information contained on at least one other track. The information is stored on the tracks in a predetermined timed sequence for providing interactive conversation dependent on the verbal responses. A playback device facilitates playback of the conversational content. A track selector randomly accesses the tracks for retrieving and play back the information stored thereon via the playback device. A voice recognition controller receives vocal responses to the conversational content and causes the track selector to switch between the data storage tracks based upon the vocal responses in accordance with the interactive conversational content.
摘要:
A system for simulcasting a fully interactive program with a normal conventional program in the same standard video signal bandwidth. It allows active participation by subscribers who have interactive components connected to a television or personal computer display, as well as normal viewing of the conventional program by viewers with conventional television sets. Interactive participants are not limited to any particular reception system. Users can participate using an interactive program box connected to a standard television set or with a multimedia personal computer with an interactive board. An important feature is that interactivity is offered as an option, without any degradation or interruption in program content to users who choose not to interact or do not have the interactive components. Interactivity is personalized through the use of alternative audio responses and/or graphic displays. The interactive elements are presented to the subscriber either immediately after subscriber entry, later during the program at predetermined times, and/or at transparent "trigger points". At trigger points, program content is subtly altered to present specialized attention to each interactive subscriber viewing the displayed programming. Interactive programs viewable over the simulcast system include both live broadcasts as well as recorded programs. Interactive audio and graphics elements can be provided as part of the transmitted video signal bandwidth using efficient one way techniques or from local or external storage. The interactive innovative features are not limited to conventional cable or television broadcast or any particular transmission means or transmission format, and can be analog or digital.
摘要:
An interactive distance learning system which provides individualized and meaningful interactive responses to each student, as if the student is receiving instruction directly from a private tutor or instructor. An interactive program transmission occurs to a diverse number of facilities and locations. The primary transmission is a live lecture by the person making the presentation on the distance learning system. The live lecture is accompanied by questions to gage comprehension by students. The questions, in interrogatory form, are graphically displayed on the screen either as video or overlaying the video showing the lecturer. In addition to the interrogatory question, a set of responses, one correct, the rest incorrect, are also presented for the student choice. A complimentary suite of affirmative supportive commentary is prepared and prerecorded for the plurality of correct and incorrect responses which might be given to a question. Each response teaches, confirms and encourages the learning experience. A processor, branching codes and a memory device can be used to create a large variety of responses to provide an individual response for every student who responds to an interrogatory. A different response is created for every answer given to every question. Video or disk recordings of presentations can be prerecorded to demonstrate concepts or ideas or simply expand on lectured points and can be switched in and out of the video presentation of the live lecture as the instructor chooses. The transmitted interactive signal can be recorded for later playback and remain fully interactive. An extremely flexible, relatively inexpensive system is thus created which uniquely teaches and uniquely addresses the needs of every student participating in the interactive distance learning system experience.
摘要:
One aspect of the invention includes an optical amplifier operable to amplify a plurality of optical wavelength signals at least in part through Raman amplification. The amplifier includes an input operable to receive a plurality of wavelength signals and an output operable to communicate an amplified version of at least some of the plurality of wavelength signals. The amplifier further includes a pump assembly operable to generate one or more pump signals and a gain medium operable to receive the plurality of wavelength signals and the one or more pump signals and to facilitate amplification of at least some of the plurality of wavelength signals. The amplifier has associated with it a noise figure having a shape varying as a function of wavelength. At least one of the one or more pump signals is operable to have its power varied to selectively control the shape of the noise figure.
摘要:
A seat belt retractor (22) having an inertial sensor to initiate lockup of the retractor, the inertial sensor including a first housing portion (102) having an actuating arm mounting member (120). The retractor including a first pin (126) cantilevered from the mounting member (120); an activation arm (130) rotationally supported upon the first pin (126), the activation arm (130), when activated, movable into engagement with a ratchet wheel (80), a pendulous vehicle sensor subassembly (150) mounted upon the first housing portion (102), the subassembly (150) and the first housing portion (102) including a support mechanism to rotatably support the sensor subassembly thereon. The sensor subassembly (150) further including a weighted member (152) having a platform for supporting a movable inertial weight (154), the inertial weight movable on the platform in response to deceleration to which the retractor is subjected; a movable arm (156) supported by the weighted member and including a sensing arm (240) having a tip (202) resting upon the inertial weight (154), the movable arm cantilever supported relative to the weighted member, wherein movement of the movable arm causes movement of the sensing arm thereby causing a change in the elevation of the activation arm thereby placing the retractor in a pre-lock mode.
摘要:
An interactive cable television system is disclosed which utilizes a standard cable television distribution network for simultaneously providing a plurality of viewers with an interactive television program comprising a plurality of signals related in time and content. Video signals are transmitted in a digital format, more than one signal being multiplexed onto a data stream on a single channel. The video signals may be compressed for efficiency. A receiver, in conjunction with a signal selector, selects a particular NTSC channel for playback, then selects a particular video signal from the data stream, and decompresses the video signal for playback. Seamless switching between video signals on different channels is provided. An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the various signals which comprise the interactive program are switched at the head end rather than at the receiver. The multiple choice control unit selects a desired signal by relaying the multiple choice selections of the user through a relay box back to a remotely located switching station. The switching station routes the correct video signal down the appropriate cable channel for the particular user.
摘要:
An apparatus for depositing fluids on a thin-layer chromatography plate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing for multiple syringes containing chromatography samples. The apparatus also includes an actuator for independently engaging the syringes to release those samples onto the thin-layer chromatography plate. The apparatus further includes a moveable platform for supporting the thin-layer chromatography plate in proximity to the syringes.
摘要:
The present invention is a real-time interactive conversational apparatus which operates by playing to a child a prerecorded conversation stored on a multi-track media such as magnetic tape. The system conversations are programmed according to a decision-tree logic which allows complex conversations to be developed, branching between the various tracks of the media being accomplished without the aid of a microprocessor or any coding in the conversation source signal. The information is stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, which contain interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice responses, responsive messages, informational messages, and combinations thereof. The responsive messages contained on the tracks are related in real-time and content to particular interrogatory messages, and correspond with multiple choice selectable responses. The apparatus can exhibit pseudo-memory and multiple simultaneous pseudo-memories; exhibit profiling and substitutability; and categorize and subcategorize users of the apparatus. The media used by the apparatus are removable so as to allow user selection of cartridges containing differing conversational content.
摘要:
The present invention relates to an interactive communication system, such as an interactive cable television system (10), for providing an interactive information output over a common output channel from a plurality of remotely transmitted different information inputs (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) and, more particularly, relates to an improved method for interactively creating a selection profile for a subscriber and interactively selecting in real time one of a plurality of messages, such as television commercials or game scores, based upon the selection profile whereby multiple users of a one-way television signal distribution network (60) may obtain an individualized or tailored program information content for a television programming sequence. The selection profile may be created in advance of transmission of the television program or commercial or during transmission of a given program and may be varied from the head end. In this manner, highly tailored information may be provided to particular subscribers based on their individual profiles as recognized by the system. In addition, selection profiles comprising subsets of a group of parameters may also be created with the tailored programming based on the subsets as well.