DEVELOPMENTS AT NIST Researchers in the Intelligent Systems Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a new technology, Spatial RAM for High Precision Data Acquisition Systems, NIST Docket Number 96-020. Servo control systems utilize the concept of fixed-rate sampling, or temporal clocking, to obtain feedback sensor readings and maintain smooth control. The Spatial RAM replaces this temporal clocking relationship with the concept of spatial clocking. This eliminates the need for a high-precision servo control system to maintain a precise speed of the sensor and thus reduces the cost of the overall data acquisition system. It is, in general, applicable to any data acquisition system using a single sensor and temporal clocking. Some specific examples include any system where a probe is moved over a surface or any system where a sensor is swept through space to acquire an image. Any parties interested in the further development or licensing of the technologies described above may write to: Ernie Graf, Licensing and CRADA Officer, Industrial Partnerships Program, Division 222, Building 820, Room 213, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. This is not an announcement of a contract or a grant.

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