US3878384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
General purpose designator for designating the class to which an unknown event belongs among a plurality of possible classes of events
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-12-04
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-12-04
Abstract
Abstract General purpose designation method and apparatus for designating the class to which an unknown event or observation belongs among a plurality of possible classes. In the most generalized sense, designation is accomplished by establishing a multidimensional coordinate system in which each axis represents a different selected property or characteristic that is relevant to the particular designation operation being carried out and then locating the position of each of the plurality of classes and the position of the unknown event in the coordinate system in accordance with their respective selected property values. Thereafter, the vector distances from the position of the unknown event to each of the class positions are determined and compared with one another to identify the class which is the shortest vector distance from the unknown event. That class will have selected property values which are, collectively, most similar to those of the unknown event and, accordingly, will be the class with which the unknown event will be designated. The system is also provided with several additional features including a ''''self-training'''' capability and the ability to recognize ambiguities due to system noise to enable other significant information to be obtained relative to the designation operation. The system provided can be utilized to perform essentially any type of designation or classification activity in a rapid and efficient manner.
Inventors
- 👤 John Kent Bowker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/46; G01J3/462; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/90; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/70; G06V10/74; G06V10/75; G06V10/94; G06V10/955; G06V20/00; G06V20/60; G06V20/69; G01J2003/466; G01J3/50; G01J3/51; G01J3/513
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for designating the class to which an unknown event belongs among a plurality of possible classes of events, which classes differ from one another by the values of one or more of a plurality of selected properties thereof; said apparatus comprising: a. means for generating a first plurality of signals which identify the position of said unknown event as a function of its selected property values in a multidimensional coordinate system wherein each axis corresponds to a different one of said plurality of selected properties; b. means for generating a second plurality of signals which identify the position of each of said classes in said multidimensional coordinate system as a function of their values of said selected properties; c. first comparing means for comparing said first plurality of signals with said second plurality of signals and for generating a third plurality of signals, each of which is proportional to the vector distance between the position of said unknown event and the position of a different one of said classes in said multidimensional coordinate system; d. second comparing means for comparing said third plurality of signals with one another for determining that third signal which is proportional to the shortest vector distance; and, e. means for identifying the particular class associated with the third signal proportional to the shortest vector distance for designating said unknown event into that particular class.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for designating the class to which an unknown event belongs among a plurality of possible classes of events, which classes differ from one another by the values of one or more of a plurality of selected properties thereof; said apparatus comprising: a. means for generating a first plurality of signals which identify the position of said unknown event as a function of its selected property values in a multidimensional coordinate system wherein each axis corresponds to a different one of said plurality of selected properties; b. means for generating a second plurality of signals which identify the position of each of said classes in said multidimensional coordinate system as a function of their values of said selected properties; c. first comparing means for comparing said first plurality of signals with said second plurality of signals and for generating a third plurality of signals, each of which is proportional to the vector distance between the position of said unknown event and the position of a different one of said classes in said multidimensional coordinate system; d. second comparing means for comparing said third plurality of signals with one another for determining that third signal which is proportional to the shortest vector distance; and, e. means for identifying the particular class associated with the third signal proportional to the shortest vector distance for designating said unknown event into that particular class.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said first plurality of signals comprise signals proportional to the value of a different one of said selected properties of said unknown event and wherein each of said second plurality of signals comprise signals proportional to the value of a different one of said selected properties of each of said plurality of classes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said first comparing means comprises means for comparing said first plurality of signals with the second plurality of signals for each class in a class-by-class sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first comparing means further comprises means for substantially simultaneously comparing, for each of the classes in sequence, each of said first plurality of signals with the corresponding one of said second plurality of signals that is proportional to the value of the same selected property.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first comparing means further comprises: a. means for comparing, for each of said classes in sequence, each of said first plurality of signals with the corresponding one of said second plurality of signals that is proportional to the value of the same selected property and for generating difference signals proportional to the difference between the values of said corresponding selected properties; b. means for squaring each of said difference signals; and, c. means for adding each of said squared difference signals for producing said third plurality of signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for generating said first plurality of signals comprises a first plurality of input channels for carrying said first plurality of signals and wherein said means for generating said second plurality of signals comprises a second plurality of input channels for carrying said second plurality of signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for generating a first plurality of signals further comprises signal conditioning means for receiving said first plurality of input signals from said first plurality of input channels and for converting at least one of said first plurality of signals into a more meaningful form for comparison with said second plurality of signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for generating a second plurality of signals includes memory means for storing the values of each of said selected properties for each of said plurality of classes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said memory means comprises a digital memory for storing digital data representing the values of each of said selected properties for each of said plurality of classes; and wherein said means for generating a second plurality of signals further comprises a plurality of digital to analog converter means associated with each of said second plurality of input channels for converting said digital data into analog signals proportional to the values of said selected properties for each of said plurality of classes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said second comparing means comprises means for comparing said third plurality of signals with one another in sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said second comparing means further comprises: a. means for storing one of said plurality of third signals; b. third signal comparator means for comparing said stored third signal with another third signal and for generating a comparator signal when said other third signal is proportional to a shorter vector distance than said stored third signal; and, c. means responsive to said comparator signal for replacing said stored third signal with said other third signal in said storing means, whereby said storing means will contain the third signal proportional to the shortest vector distance from said unknown event position to each of said plurality of class positions upon completion of said sequential comparison.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said identifying means includes buffer storage means for storing a code identifying the class associated with that third signal which is stored in said storing means at any particular time whereby said buffer storage means will contain a code identifying the class associated with said third signal associated with said shortest vector distance upon completion of said sequential comparison.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 12 and further including means for changing the code in said buffer storage means when a different third signal is stored in said storing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said second comparing means further includes means for storing the third signal proportional to the second shortest vector distance between said unknown event position and said plurality of class positionS.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said identifying means further includes second buffer storage means for storing a code identifying the class associated with said third signal proportional to said second shortest vector distance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 15 and further including means for comparing the third signal proportional to said shortest vector distance with said third signal proportional to said second shortest vector distance for indicating the possible effect of noise on the accuracy of said designation operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said second comparing means further includes means for storing the third signal proportional to the longest vector distance between the position of said unknown event and the position of said plurality of classes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 and further including means for coupling said means for generating said second plurality of signals to said means for generating said first plurality of signals whereby a second plurality of signals associated with one class may be compared with a second plurality of signals associated with another class and whereby a first plurality of signals associated with one unknown event may be compared with a first plurality of signals associated with another unknown event.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said second plurality of signals for at least one of said classes comprise signals proportional to the mean value of each of said selected property values for a plurality of sample events, each of which are known to belong to said one class.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |