Stephen E Rice

US Patent:

40329798, Jun 28, 1977

Filed:

Dec 27, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/537121

Inventors:

Stephen E. Rice - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

Digital Development Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G11B 509

US Classification:

360 40

Abstract:

A digital data encoding and decoding method and system is disclosed, with particular reference to magnetic records, in which bits are encoded in groups. Three out of four, two-bit combinations are encoded respectively by three patterns of transition placements under the rule that the two-bit group frame be divisible in only three sections having width of the read resolution R and the minimum spacing M between transitions is twice that value. The fourth bit combination is encoded under utilization of altogether four bits, using pattern combinations that extend over six sections R under the same constraint as to minimum spacing. Under otherwise similar conditions, the package density can be increased by 33% as compared with tri-period codes, and more than doubled as compared with frequency doubling or Manchester. The encoding scheme is generalized in that the selective extension of the encoding field for bit groups permits pattern encoding by a smaller number of permissible pattern combinations than seemingly necessary on basis of fixed bit group lengths.

US Patent:

42165296, Aug 5, 1980

Filed:

Jan 17, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/870187

Inventors:

Michael S. Krystek - Spring Valley CA
George L. Hurley - Alpine CA
Steven R. Smith - San Diego CA
Stephen E. Rice - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

General Atomic Company - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G06F 1556

US Classification:

364510

Abstract:

A system for monitoring and controlling the operation of a plurality of fluid dispensers, such as gasoline pumps or the like in a self-service gasoline station is disclosed. The system includes an operating console that may be located in a station building and has electronic displays, dispenser selecting push buttons and a keyboard including numeric and functional switches, all of which an operator can use to control the operation of the system. A mode select switch permits operation of the system in various modes, selected ones of which permit an operator to obtain various period totals of both volume and cost, to control normal postpay or prepay dispensing transactions, check inventory as well as set or reset the cost per volumetric unit, among other operations. The system can include electronic displays at the gasoline pump and permit price setting of the fluid product from the console.