Abstract: Methods and systems to update information of a device description of a field instrument are described. In one example, a method involves comparing a host revision of the device description executed via a host application to an instrument revision of the device description of the field instrument, generating a character string of update information based on the comparison, the character string containing the update information, and displaying the character string via the host application.

Abstract: A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising generating and printing a planarizing part having a substantially-planar top surface relative to a build plane, and a bottom surface that substantially mirrors a topography of a platen surface, and printing the three-dimensional part over the substantially-planar top surface of the printed planarizing part.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism assembly for use with a tape cartridge includes a support arm having first and second opposing ends and adapted to be coupled to the tape cartridge. The cutting mechanism assembly also includes a mount for a biasing element. The mount is coupled to the support arm and the biasing element is configured to couple the mount to the tape cartridge. Further, the cutting mechanism assembly includes a support plate for a mechanism for reducing a biasing force from the biasing element. The support plate is coupled to the support arm and the mechanism is configured to couple the support plate to the tape cartridge.

Abstract: A method includes aggregating multiple zones of an indoor structure, each zone having associated comfort limits, formulating an aggregated single zone model predictive control (MPC) problem representative of the multiple zones for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, determining optimal aggregated actions as a function of the aggregated single zone model predictive control problem, simulating an optimal trajectory of indoor qualities, and determining zone temperature setpoints to comply with the comfort limits for each zone and pre-cool the indoor structure.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a plant control apparatus includes a deviation calculation unit, a velocity-type PID calculation unit, a plurality of integral calculation units, a plurality of overwrite units, and an automatic balance unit. The deviation calculation unit calculates a deviation between a process value from a plant with operation terminals and a set value corresponding to a control object, and generates a deviation signal. The velocity-type PID calculation unit generates a velocity-type operation amount command signal corresponding to the deviation. The integral calculation units generate position command signals as defined operation terminal position command signals. The overwrite units generate additional position command signals to perform overwrite processing and newly define operation terminal position command signals.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a reference tracking performance ratio and a disturbance rejection performance ratio associated with a model predictive control (MPC) controller. The method also includes filtering an output target signal for the controller using a first filter based on the reference tracking performance ratio. The method further includes filtering a feedback signal for the controller using a second filter based on the disturbance rejection performance ratio. The filters can provide two degrees of freedom for tuning reference tracking and disturbance rejection operations of the controller. The reference tracking operation of the controller and the disturbance rejection operation of the controller can be independently tunable. The reference tracking performance ratio can control how aggressively the controller responds to a change in the output target signal. The disturbance rejection performance ratio can control how aggressively the controller responds to a disturbance in the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product facilitate the automation of an oil & gas process, e.g., a drilling process, through the use of a dynamic phase machine incorporating multiple autonomous agents.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing loading operation data to estimate one or more delivery events is described. The loading operation data comprises payload records, each representing a delivery event. The method comprises, for a selected payload record, operating a processing unit to determine whether a delivery weight in respect of the selected payload record is likely to reflect a single delivery event. If the delivery weight is unlikely to reflect a single delivery event the method further comprises generating a synthetic payload record representing an estimated delivery event and comprising synthetic weight and timing values.

Abstract: An air-conditioner control interface device that connects an air conditioner to an external device, including: an air-conditioner-information input/output unit that transmits or receives information to or from the air conditioner; an external-device-information input/output unit that transmits or receives information to or from the external device; an interface-control-information input/output unit that acquires interface control information, in which definitions of the information transmitted or received between the external device and the air conditioner and methods of transmitting or receiving the information, are described; and an interface controller that controls the external-device-information input/output unit and the air-conditioner-information input/output unit to transmit or receive information based on the interface control information.

Abstract: Voltage instability protection for an electric power system is implemented by determining a change in power injected into a region of interest within the electric power system based on synchronized power measurements from different power injection points of the region of interest, and by determining a change in power absorbed by one or more loads in the region of interest based on synchronized power measurements from different load points of the region of interest. A change in power loss for the region of interest is determined based on the difference between the change in power injected into the region of interest and the change in power absorbed by the region of interest. A voltage instability condition is indicated when the change in power loss for the region of interest approximates the change in power injected into the region of interest.

Abstract: A system controller of a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is configured to control the operation of a demand unit to maintain a comfort characteristic setpoint of a conditioned space. The controller includes a setback calculation module that is configured to calculate a setback value of the setpoint as a function of a recovery time from the setback value to the setpoint.

Abstract: An electric power distribution device sets a first threshold and a second threshold for a threshold temperature of main wires, and sets a third threshold and a fourth threshold for a threshold temperature of branch wires. In the case where a temperature of each of the main wires reaches the first threshold, all of branch wire switches provided in a branch wire distributor are shut off. Thereafter, in the case where the temperature of the main wire reaches the second threshold, each of the main wire switches, which is provided a main wire distributor, is shut off. In the case where a temperature of a certain branch wire reaches the third threshold, the corresponding branch wire switch is subjected to PWM control. Thereafter, in the case where the temperature of the branch wire reaches the fourth threshold, the corresponding branch wire switch is shut off.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling airflow in a computer system enclosure are described herein. A computer system includes an enclosure and an airflow controller. The enclosure is configured to contain a plurality of compute nodes. The airflow controller configured to control a flow of air provided to each of the plurality of compute nodes. The airflow controller is configured to receive unsolicited requests for airflow from each of the plurality of compute nodes. The airflow controller is further configured to control airflow provided to a given compute node based on the unsolicited airflow requests received from a subset of the compute nodes, including the given node. The subset of the compute nodes is assigned to a same airflow zone by the airflow controller.

Abstract: There are prepared element characteristic information 12 obtained by previously, individually measuring light emission characteristics of a plurality of LED elements and resin coating information 14 that correlates an appropriate amount of resin to be applied for acquiring an LED package exhibiting a specified light emission characteristic and the element characteristic information 12. A map preparation processing section 74 prepares, for each board, map data 18 correlating mounting position information 71a showing position of the LED element mounted on the board by a component mounting device M1 and the element characteristic information 12. There is updated the resin coating information 14 on the basis of an inspection result fed back to a resin coating device M4 as a result of a completed product coated with a resin being inspected by a light emission characteristic inspection device M7.

Abstract: A method of forming a cut path that includes the steps of selecting a first image line and a second closed image line surrounding an enclosed area, Overlying the second closed image line on the first image line and identifying a pair of intersections between the first image line and the second closed image line, and making a determination to turn one of right or left at both of the intersections of the pair of intersections to add portions of the second closed image line lying between the intersections with portions of the first image line to form a cut-path.

Abstract: A system and method of using one or more DC-DC/DC-AC converters and/or alternative devices allows strings of multiple module technologies to coexist within the same PV power plant. A computing (optimization) framework estimates the percentage allocation of PV power plant capacity to selected PV module technologies. The framework and its supporting components considers irradiation, temperature, spectral profiles, cost and other practical constraints to achieve the lowest levelized cost of electricity, maximum output and minimum system cost. The system and method can function using any device enabling distributed maximum power point tracking at the module, string or combiner level.

Abstract: A technique for controlling a process using non-periodically received process variable measurements enables more robust controller responses to setpoint changes. The control technique implements iterations of a control routine to generate a control signal using a reset or rate contribution component that produces an expected process response to the control signal. When a new measurement of the process variable is unavailable to the controller, the reset or rate contribution component that was generated in response to the receipt of the previous process variable is maintained when generating the control signal. However, the reset contribution component is iteratively recalculated during each controller execution cycle so that the output of the reset contribution component incorporates expected process changes that occur as a result of a setpoint change.

Abstract: A system may include a set-top box, associated with a customer premises, configured to receive a television signal and provide the television signal to a television and a home monitoring device configured to obtain a weather forecast for a geographic area associated with the customer premises, determine a thermostat setting for the customer premises based on the obtained weather forecast, and provide a recommendation about the determined thermostat setting to the set-top box. The set-top box may be further configured to present the recommendation about the determined thermostat setting via the television; receive a selection of the determined thermostat setting; and provide an indication of the selection to the home monitoring device; and the home monitoring device may be further configured to apply the determined thermostat setting to a thermostat controller associated with the customer premises, in response to receiving the indication from the set-top box.

Abstract: A power management system includes: customer terminals; and a power management apparatus connected to the customer terminals, wherein each of the customer terminals includes a weather forecast acquisition unit that acquires a local weather forecast for a corresponding customer terminal, and a power prediction unit that predicts a power consumption and an amount of power that can be reduced for a predetermined period based on the weather forecast, and the power management apparatus includes an integration processing unit that integrates the power consumptions and the amounts of power that can be reduced that are predicted for the respective customer terminals to calculate a total power consumption and a total amount of power that can be reduced for all of the customer terminals.

Abstract: A method of damping power system oscillations include obtaining a time synchronized damping control signal from a remote location and determining a communication time delay in receiving the time synchronized damping control signal from the remote location. The time synchronized damping control signal is then modified based on a phase compensation factor and an amplitude compensation factor determined from the time delay. Finally, a damping signal is generated based on the modified time synchronized damping control signal.