Abstract: A model predictive control apparatus constructed in consideration of limit conditions of the process and also suitable for a multi-input/output system and an input device suitable for such a control apparatus are disclosed.The model predictive control apparatus includes an transformation unit for transforming the cost function and the limit condition to a conditional expression only relating to the manipulated variable. A suitable cost function parameter adjustment unit in which robustness is taken into consideration is provided. Alternatively, by designation of a response time constant, a weight corresponding thereto is calculated or determined to carry out evaluation of stability margin.In addition, the input device is adapted to carry out, through a picture on screen, setting or alteration of a predictive model or control parameters, etc. to be inputted, thus to suitably conduct setting while confirming it on the screen.

Abstract: In a method for the adaptive automatic control of position-adjustable drives, optimized parameters are determined from the drive motion, wherein the optimized parameters are stored with corrected parameters entered into data memory storage. In order to avoid in a method of this kind, involving a reduction of the cycle times, an overshooting in the target position, even in case of non-cyclical positioning sequences, a drive distance, determinant for an operational course, is determined between its stop points and is subdivided into calculated, consecutively numbered distance zones or angle zones and these numbers of system zones or numbers of angle zones are stored in a data memory storage. With the aid of the thus determined distance zones or angle zones, the values describing the drive motions are determined and are sub-divided in each case into a consecutively numbered zone system and are stored in a data memory storage.

Abstract: A pen-based form computer using "Form" as the operation metaphor between users and the computer, which allows an user to directly operate the information stored in the computer or any remote systems without learning commands, file names, file types, and other details regarding computer internal structure. It is applicable for use in medical prescription control, order registration control, inventory inquiry control, data collection. It can also be used as a front-end system in a client and server structure. The pen-based form computer comprises a pen for data entry, and a complete Multi-tasking Preemptive Pen Based Form Operation software system for form operation metaphor, graphical form making procedure, multiple form data association, multiple form operation language, remote form data accessing, automatic database association, and hand-writing recognition. External keyboard for data entry is acceptable. The preferred embodiment of the invention is within 2 lbs and about the size of a B5 paper.

Abstract: In a wavelet transform apparatus including a plurality of series of delay units and at least one convolution calculating circuit to form a two-band analysis filter circuit, the two-band analysis filter circuit, i.e., the convolution calculating circuit is operated in multiplicity.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a received signal according to a digital signal processing algorithm having a multiplier and a limit and quantization circuit appropriately connected within the apparatus to permit operation of the multiplier and the limit and quantization circuit in parallel with logic processing by the apparatus. The address bus system of the apparatus is connected to the parallel-connected components and conveys instructions to the parallel-connected components, at least in part, by predetermined address information via the address bus system.

Abstract: One cycle of a programmable controller includes reading-in (E) the input signals, processing (B) the input signals, whereby inter alia the output signals are calculated, and outputting (A) the output signals. The time one cycle takes can be shortened by processing (B) the input signals at least in part simultaneously with the outputting (A) of the output signals of the preceding cycle and with the reading-in (E) of the input signals of the subsequent cycle.

Abstract: A timing and control system for a glassware forming machine includes a ship computer system resident within a control room and a hot end console on the shop floor adjacent a multi-section glassware forming machine. The shop computer system executes a number of subroutines which permit configuration of the shop and of each IS machine section, such as routines for identifying on and off angles for the several mechanical devices associated with the sections. The hot end display includes a touch screen which permits the floor operator to implement certain changes in the timing and sequence of operation of the machine mechanical devices. The shop computer system implements subroutines which test for and detect potential conflicts or collisions between machine devices due to changes in the event times for the devices. The conflict testing occurs when the operator inputs the timing change information, issuing warning messages and disallowing the configuration change in the event of a conflict.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing a host-independent cartridge entry mode in an automated tape cartridge library connected to more than one host computer. In host-independent cartridge entry mode, a message is broadcast by a library management unit to all of the host computers when an operator loads a cartridge or cartridges into the library cartridge access port. The host computers then vie for control of the cartridge access port, and a selection algorithm determines which host computer is allocated to control the cartridge access port. The selected host computer then catalogs the cartridges contained in the cartridge access port and issues a command to move the cartridges out of the cartridge access port.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus determines an interference-free trajectory for fitting a moving solid body into a cavity, particularly where the body has a complex shape and tightly fits into the cavity. The method begins by describing the body surface with a finite set of body surface elements and the cavity surface with a finite set of cavity surface elements. Then a set of surface element pairs is determined. Each set comprises a body surface element and a corresponding cavity surface element. A neighborhood is a volume that contains the pair of surface elements but no other surface element pairs or parts of surface elements. Body motion constraints are developed for each pair. The constraints do not allow the body motion to cause the surface elements in the pair to interpenetrate or to leave their respective neighborhood. An incremental movement of the body, along a preferred direction, is then determined subject to the constraints.

Abstract: Load sharing is achieved in a multiple compressor system by a program in a computer which sends signals to, and receives data from, a microcontroller located at each compressor. One compressor, designated as the lead compressor, furnishes its operating parameters, via the computer, to all the other, lag, compressors. The operating parameters include inlet valve position and bypass valve position of each compressor and the microcontroller controls the actuatation of both valves. When system demand decreases, compressors are gradually unloaded, and then stopped to go off-line. When system demands increase, compressors are first started, and then gradually loaded before going on-line. Compressors go both on-line and off-line subject to certain time delays so that compressors are gradually added to, or shed from, the load. To equalize running time, all compressors in the system may undergo a periodic rotation and compressors go off-line in reverse order that they came on-line.

Abstract: A method for approximately representing a first curve having anchor points and a control point, wherein the first curve is subdivided into a plurality of segments and an approximate curve is constructed by joining the points corresponding to the ends of the segments with straight lines. The number of segments is determined by sequentially subdividing the first curve until sum of the lengths of lines joining the anchor points and control points is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for determining characteristics of a process--such as primary and second time constants, dead-time, and gain--by applying a doublet pulse to the process and measuring its response. By way of example, in one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for generating a signal, .tau..sub.1, representing an estimate of a primary time constant of a non-self-regulating process, in accord with the mathematical expression .tau..sub.1 =(.delta.m.tau..sub.a.sup.2)/A.sup.+ is a factor representing the time-wise integration of the controlled variable during the period when the doublet pulse is being applied .delta.m is a factor representing an amount by which the manipulated variable is incremented, and .tau..sub.a represents the time period over which the controlled variable signal changes from its original value by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for developing the contours of forming tools for fabricating metal members of complex shape such as wing skin and fuselage panels for aircraft. A computer simulation is performed of the age forming process on a geometrical representation of a member having the material properties of a desired metal member. The age forming process includes the steps of: a) overforming an unformed member in a tool having a contour of smaller curvature than the contour of the desired member; b) constraining the unformed member in the overformed condition; c) applying a thermal aging cycle to the member; d) cooling the constrained member following the thermal aging cycle; and e) releasing the constrained member from the condition imparted by step (b) and allowing it to spring back to a dimensionally stable condition which defines the desired member having a surface contour of complex shape.

Abstract: A pattern development system for use during the garment development process includes a digitizer with a work surface. The designer draws the lines of the garment pattern on the work surface with a stylus that enables the digitizer to present position signals to a controller in real time. The controller includes algorithms to compose the drawn lines into a garment pattern as well as compensate for human errors such as multiply drawn lines and missing line portions. The present system is transparent to the designer in operation as it adapts to the human designer rather than forcing the designer to adapt to the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring semiconductor jobs to achieve a desired level of set serviceability, in either probability or expectation, using a minimal number of wafers. The configuration problem is formulated as a mathematical optimization, where the serviceability level and yield losses, at chip, wafer and job levels, are explicitly considered. The problem is then reformulated by replacing the mathematically intractable service level constraints with tractable lower bounds. The reformulated mathematical optimization is efficiently solved using marginal allocation, giving good, feasible solutions to the original configuration program.

Abstract: In a production process administration system, there are provided an assembly line comprising a plurality of assembly stations and a correction line comprising a plurality of correction stations for correcting defects which occur on the assembly line, the above two lines being connected in series to form a single production line. Defects detected in the assembly line are stored in a data carrier which is transported along with a work which is assembled. Defect data in the data carrier is read before the work enters the correction line, and correction operation instructions based on the read data are output to each station of the correction line.

Abstract: A COMBINED DECIMATION/INTERPOLATION FILTER FOR ADC AND DAC (analog-to-digital converter and digital-to-analog converter) provides a single filter which may be used both as a decimation filter and as an interpolation filter. It is simple and inexpensive. It gains simplicity and inexpensivenes by carefully selecting the tap weights of the filter, cascading multiple filters, time domain multiplexing the multiple filters into a single filter, and using adders instead of multipliers to provide the tap weights.

Abstract: A feedback apparatus used in combination with a programmable machine controller for a multi-spindle screw machine wherein each spindle has a corresponding machine tool mounted on a moveable servo slide. The feedback apparatus includes at least one measurement device that produces an electrical output indicative of a dimensional characteristic of each work piece. The measurement device data is inputted to a data analyzer that calculates average values and range for a predetermined subgroup number of work pieces. The analyzer provides this data electronically to a programmable offset device that determines new offset values for the machine tool slides to maintain the subgroup average values and range within predetermined limits. The feedback apparatus provides "on the fly" offset updates to the machine controller to compensate for average machine process performance as well as individual machine tool and spindle performance.

Abstract: A universal transform processor using at least a one dimensional (1-D) transform processor to produce N dimensional transforms without transposition and providing a fully pipelined structure with a through put rate of N clock cycles for an N.times.N successive serial input with parallel output data. The universal transform processor can efficiently compute Discrete Cosine, Sine, Hartley, Fourier, Lapped Orthogonal, and Complex Lapped transforms for continuous input data stream. The architecture is regular, modular, and has only local interconnections in both data and control paths. The universal transform processor is practical for very large scale integrated (VLSI) implementation.

Abstract: In a computer aided design (CAD) system, by distributing managements of a number of concerned parts data to a plurality of work stations (WS), a large scale assembly constructed by a number of parts can be easily designed. There is provided a distributed data CAD system in which a user can easily progress the design of an assembly under distributed circumstances without being aware of the locations of the distributed information. A certain client WS transmits parts numbers to a server WS. The server WS searches a parts construction file by using the parts numbers as keys, thereby obtaining parts construction information and transmitting to the client WS. The client WS checks the parts construction information and when parts shape information exists in a parts shape file connected to its own WS, the client WS searches the file by using the shape names and physical path names as keys, thereby obtaining parts shape information.