Abstract: A method of segmenting a text into words in which a dictionary search is made while using a character string in the text as a search key, and it is checked whether a word retrieved from the dictionary can be grammatically connected to another word adjacent thereto or not. Segmentation processing is carried out using only words registered in a word dictionary, processing for identifying an unknown word is carried out when the segmentation processing comes to a deadlock, and then the segmentation processing is continued for that portion of the text which follows the identified unknown word.

Abstract: The invention relates to the automatic control of the lifting travel of a string of pipes suspended from a cable. To stop this string of pipes systematically in a specific position, a first passage check controlled by a sensor, for example sensitive to the rotation of the pulley over which the cable passes, is associated with a second location check controlled by a sensor, for example sensitive to the passage at a given level of the joints separating the pipes two by two.

Abstract: An optical data processing system employing a programmable optical data processor for processing an optical data beam comprising a plurality of zero, one and two-dimensional modulators for spatially modulating the optical data beam, the modulators being interconnected such that lenses are not necessary to accomplish the focusless transfer of the optical data beam between the modulators. The plurality of modulators are controlled so as to permit the programmable processing of the optical data beam. The optical data processor realized is physically solid and compact and is readily capable of performing a wide variety of optical computations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for optimizing the operational state of a system employing iterative steps that approximately follow a projective scaling trajectory or an affine scaling trajectory, or curve, in computing from its present state, x.sub.0 to a next state x.sub.1 toward the optimum state. The movement is made in a transformed space where the present (transformed) state of the system is at the center of the space, and the curve approximation is in the form of a power series in the step size. The process thus develops a sequence of tentative states x.sub.1, x.sub.2, x.sub.n . . . . It halts when a selected suitable stopping criterion is satisfied, and assigns the most recent tentative state as the optimized operating state of the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing resource allocations is disclosed which utilizes the Karmarkar algorithm to proceed in the interior of the solution space polytope. At least one allocation variable is assumed to be unconstrained in value. Each successive approximation of the solution point, and the polytope, are normalized such that the solution is at the center of the normalized polytope using a diagonal matrix of the current solution point. The objective function is then projected into the normalized space and the next step is taken in the interior of the polytope, in the direction of steepest-descent of the objective function gradient and of such a magnitude as to remain within the interior of the polytope. The process is repeated until the optimum solution is closely approximated.The resulting algorithm steps are advantageously applied to the phase of one problem of obtaining a starting point, and to the dual problem, where the free variable assumption produces unexpected computational advantages.

Abstract: In a computer controlled machine tool, the actual tracks obtained from the reference values are simulated by means of system models of the drive circuits for reducing contour errors, and an excessive deviation between the reference and the actual track is used for changing the operating track velocity.

Abstract: A numerical control system having a control unit; an input unit to which machine tool control information is supplied in the form of a high level language; a memory unit having a translator to which the control information is supplied from the input unit in accordance with instruction of the control unit, and which translates it into a machine language; an arithmetic unit which processes the control information translated in the machine language in accordance with instruction of the control unit to be stored into the memory unit; and finally an output unit which reads the processed control information from the memory unit to an external machine tool. The control system also has sensors for detecting completion of a machining step of the machine tool and produces a feedback data and supplies it to the input unit.

Abstract: A device for positioning several units that can be moved adjacent to and at a constant distance from one another, each unit having a distance-traveled detector associated with its drive mechanism and the device as a whole having central controls that emit a reference value. To provide a positioning device that will operate effectively with a minimum of control lines between each unit and the central controls, each unit has a separate computer to control its drive mechanism, each computer is equipped, as are the central controls, which also have an overall computer, to emit a series of coded blocks of information for each unit, and each of the computers associated with the units is equipped to intercept, process, and forward the blocks of information and to actualize the information pertaining to the position of its own unit.

Abstract: In a robotic system for efficient serialization of processing a number of samples by a robotic manipulator through an identical sequence of processing steps with a plurality of the samples being processed through the sequence at a given time, such that they must share the services of the manipulator, the improvement wherein a computer control means 92 operates a schedule-control feature which forms means both(a) to relate (1) the time within said sequence required to carry out all said steps which do not require the robotic manipulator (22) to (2) the time within said sequence which does require the robotic manipulator and the minimum number of processing spaces (305) for samples in non-robotic-manipulated time steps; and(b) to provide a priority of action for manipulator such that the sample which is both ready for further processing and most advanced in the sequence is given priority for further completion when said manipulator (22) is available for said further processing.

Abstract: A method is provided for the automatic generation of maze-like patterns for application to two-dimensional surfaces and three-dimensional objects. The directions of successive incremental steps of a continuous solution path through the maze are stored in an array and the data so stored is used to drive an output device which responds to the data in each cell of the array and in the neighbouring cells on two orthogonal sides thereof.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a rolling mill which dampens a snake motion of a material being rolled is disclosed. According to this method and apparatus, an amount corresponding to the snake motion of the material being rolled is detected, and the value thus detected is added to a value corresponding to a differentiated value of said detected value. A control operation is applied to the material being rolled to thereby control the snake motion of the material.

Abstract: The present invention increases screw cutting accuracy and simplifies the control of a screw cutting control system which performs screw cutting through the use of a numerically-controlled machine tool. A tapper (TPP) connected to a spindle, holds a tap (TAP) in a manner to be movable in the axial direction of the spindle, transmits the rotation of the spindle to the tap (TAP) for a predetermined range of forward axial movement of the tap (TAP) and transmits the rotation of the spindle to the tap (TAP) when the spindle is reversed. During screw cutting, feed by a feed motor (SZ) stops after the tap (TAP) enters a workpiece and the screw cutting is effected by the thrust of the tap itself resulting from the rotation of the spindle. The sequence of screw cutting is commanded by one block of command data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer controlled robotic arm unit having a fixed body and a carriage which is linearly movable to the fixed body along a first horizontal orthogonal cartesian axis. An elongated column is vertically movably mounted to the carriage along a second vertical cartesian axis while an elongated arm is carried at the upper end of the column. This arm includes a work performing member at one end and is linearly movable along a third and substantially horizontal orthogonal cartesian axis which is perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A machine control system is provided, being connected to a remote source of machine commands. In a preferred embodiment, a computerized numerical control (CNC) system is provided for controlling a machine and is arranged for communication with a remote computer center for receiving parts program commands therefrom and for controlling a machine in response thereto. Multiple sources of parts program commands are provided including a tape reader source and an operator panel source of parts program commands. Parts program commands can be executed directly for control of a machine or can be stored in a parts program memory for buffering, editing, converting, assembling and other functions. Many numerical control features are provided with the CNC system of the present invention for enhanced capabilities.

Abstract: An apparatus for blending commodities in a commodity handling system which includes containers (46) for holding the various commodities, the containers (46) having discharge means for enabling commodities to be discharged from the containers, and conveying means (43) for moving the commodities from one location to another is disclosed. The blending apparatus includes means for selecting the containers (46) whose commodities are to be blended together. The selection means also includes means for selecting the relative percentages of the commodities to be blended. In addition, there is means for determining the corresponding amount of opening for the discharge means such that the required blending percentages are obtained. Additionally, there is control means for opening the discharge means the required amount to achieve the selected blending percentages.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved data processor architecture. In a preferred embodiment, this architecture provides a hybrid stored program computer having analog and digital signals, where this architecture utilizes the combination of an integrated circuit analog read only memory, an integrated circuit analog alterable memory, and digital processing logic to achieve a low cost monolithic hybrid data processor. Analog CCD memories are provided for obtaining high capacity storage at low cost. Digital processing is provided for flexibility and capability. Analog to digital converters and digital to analog converters are used for communication between analog and digital portions of the data processor. Adaptive compensation having stored reference signals enhances analog signal precision.

Abstract: A manipulator control system uses a microprocessor to compute appropriate control parameters in order to maintain constant tangential velocity of a spray nozzle in relation to the inside surface of a spherical portion of a nuclear steam generator. The microprocessor also computes, in one of the three modes of operation, of the control system, appropriate control parameters for maintaining a predetermined distance between the nozzle and the center of the spherical enclosure.

Abstract: A laser platemaking control system includes a control panel (410), microprocessor means (408, 424), and an interface (524) therebetween, the control system controlling (a) the loading and unloading of transports (150) onto and from the inner surface of a support with an arcuate cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drum (243), (b) the translational scanning of paste-ups (478) to be optically read and plates (516) or the like to be optically written on by optical devices (462, 502) which are translated along and rotated about the drum axis, and (c) the selection of size and position of paste-ups (478) and plates (516) on a transport to be scanned. A display (412) also provides communication to an operator from the microprocessor means (403, 424). The microprocessors (403) and (424) are, optionally, incorporated into a single microprocessor.

Abstract: In a triplex redundant digital control system, one of three computer units is selected for controlling a digital flight control system by using fault scoring and selection logic circuitry that responds to discrete signals produced by the computer units that represent both self-test and cross-test information on the health of the three available units. The self-test and cross-test discrete information signals are received and processed by the selection logic circuit in accordance with a fault-scoring scheme in which the self-test scores are accorded different and, in particular, greater weight than the cross-test scores and a computer unit exhibiting the lowest combined self- and cross-test fault score is selected as the computer in control. The circuitry also includes memory devices for storing the fault scores associated with previous fault conditions so that a previously unfailed computer unit is selected over a previously failed but currently healthy computer.

Abstract: The coordinate values (X, Y, Z) for the position of the front end of a tool and the vector (I, J, K) of the axial direction of the tool are read in from a command tape by a tape reader. Using these values and a tool length l set by a dial or the like, a movement data calculation circuit calculates the orthogonal coordinate values (x, y, z) of the position Q of the center of rotation of the tool and spherical coordinate values (b, c) indicative of the position of the rotational angle of the tool. After these coordinate values are converted into pulses for moving the tool in the respective axial directions by a pulse distribution circuit, servomotors are driven by the pulse signals and through servo circuits so as to move the tool or a table to a desired machining position.