Abstract: A machining region which is determined from an inputted before-machining shape and an inputted after-machining shape is divided and the divided machining regions are united to form a united machining region. An optimum machining process is obtained by selecting an optimum combination of the machining regions based on parameters set in advance, and determining a machining method for the united machining region.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a press brake is advantageously employable for a press brake for which a high operational efficiency and a high working accuracy are required. In response to inputting of working conditions inclusive of a target bending angle for a plate, the apparatus calculates displacement of a load active on a stationary table and a movable table, automatically calculates a quantity of crowning to be adjusted based on results derived from the foregoing calculation and then calculates the present position assumed by the movable in additional consideration of the quantity of crowning to be adjusted, based on results derived from the aforementioned calculations. The press brake accurately bends the plate based on the thus derived quantity of crowing to be adjusted and the present position assumed by the movable table without an occurrence of malfunction of so-called intermediate opening of the bent plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for preventing the runaway of the integral term of a proportional integral differential controller which is usable in a feedback system. An error signal is supplied to the controller by the feedback system. The controller produces a control variable output signal from the error signal. In accordance with the invention, the controller imposes a slew rate limit on the control variable output signal. Also in accordance with the invention, whenever the controller attempts to drive the control variable output signal to exceed the slew rate limit, the integral term associated with the controller is adjusted to a value which forces the control variable output signal to its slew rate limited value. In this manner, runaway of the integral term associated with the controller is desirably avoided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel pump control system for controlling fuel dispensers through a PC-based POS terminal. The system includes a printed circuit board which can be inserted in an expansion slot in the PC for controlling the fuel dispensers. The system uses a microprocessor with read-only-memory and read-and-write-memory. A series of commands are stored in the ROM for controlling the dispensers during the fueling process. A configuration circuit translates and configures the communication protocol of the pump control system and the communication protocol of the dispensers allowing them to interact. Response data from the dispenser during the fueling process is stored in the RAM. The pump control system is interfaced to the POS application software in the POS. In a preferred embodiment, the flow of data between the microprocessor in the pump controller and the microprocessor in the PC-based POS is controlled by a terminate-stay-resident driver.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for converting low-level stitch-by-stitch numerical control code embroidery design programs into an outline format which can be edited and modified to generate new design patterns which may be converted back to either stitch-by-stitch numerical control codes or a condensed data format.

Abstract: A computer software vending machine includes an information storage unit for storing user information relating to a particular user when the user utilizes the computer software vending machine. An information reading unit reads various information from the information storage unit. The storing unit stores a plurality of computer software and user information relating to the user when the user utilizes the computer software vending machine. A comparing unit compares the user information stored in the storing unit with the user information relating to the user when the user utilizes the computer software vending machine. A selecting unit selects computer software which has been supplied from the computer software vending machine after the user last utilized the computer software vending machine from the information storage unit, on the basis of the comparison with the comparing unit. The displaying unit displays the computer software selected by the selecting unit.

Abstract: According to this invention, a rolled sheet rolled by a reduction roll of a rolling mill is divided into a plurality of areas in a direction of its width, and sheet flatness or thickness values are measured in the plurality of areas. Bending forces, leveling value, shift amounts, and the like applied, by actuators respectively arranged at drive and work sides of the reduction roll, from the drive and work sides of the reduction roll are calculated in accordance with the sheet flatness or thickness measurement values and influence coefficients of the actuators. The actuators on the drive and work sides of the reduction roll are independently operated in accordance with these operation amounts.

Abstract: An expanded programmable memory controller (PMC) is provided outside a numerical control device and connected to a main body programmable machine controller (PMC) which is inside the numerical control apparatus. The expanded programmable machine controller has a first sequence program, a second sequence program and a switching control mechanism. The first sequence program controls equipment connected to the expanded PMC. The second sequence program pseudo-executes an operation performed by the main body PMC. The switching control mechanism performs switching operation when an I/O signal of the first sequence program is supplied to or received from the main body PMC and when the I/O signal of the first sequence program is supplied to or received from the second sequence program so that when supplied to or received from the second sequence program, the first sequence and the second sequence programs are alternatively executed.

Abstract: A programmable control comprising a plurality of programmable controllers (PC's) for executing parallel control. Each PC is provided with a link control table for storing the numbers of the PC's to which link data such as interlock information is supplied. In each PC, a link data file in which link data to be required are listed is created. The link data file is circulated to each PC. Each PC creates a link control table in accordance with the contents of the received link data file.

Abstract: A method for optimally operating a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine to form cavities in a ceramic substrate for receiving IC chips and other components of a high density interconnect structure electrically interconnected by a multi-layer interconnect (HDI) structure. Generation of the CNC program instructions is based on locations and dimensions of the components which, through a set of design rules, provide locations and dimensions for an initial set of cavities corresponding to the components on a one-for-one basis. Depending upon the particular arrangement of the components, specific neighboring cavities of the initial set may either overlap or be separated by walls. A representation of the location and dimensions of each of the cavities of the initial set is formed, and the representation is enhanced by a "combine pockets" step and by a "remove borders" step to represent locations and dimensions of cavities of an optimized set.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic program forming apparatus which automatically forms a part program for extracting the contour measurement position of a measurement object and the measurement condition data from two-dimensional CAD graphic information, and for calculating the XYZ coordinates of the approach position, entering position, etc. of a probe of a three-dimensional contour measurement device at the time of the contour measurement on the basis of the extracted contour measurement position and measurement condition data to thereby control the three-dimensional contour measurement device; and which automatically forms a test program for simulating the measurement operation of the part program in advance.

Abstract: A method by which an eye care professional can convey edger information to a remotely located optician having a numerically controlled edger capable of shaping and beveling lenses in which the eye care professional removes the demonstration lenses from frames which the wearer has selected, places the demonstration lenses on a pattern scale and aligns the horizontal axis of the lenses, traces the outline of each of the demonstration lenses on the pattern scale, places the pattern scale into an optical scanning digital data transmitter wherein the patterns of the lenses are converted to digital information, transmitting the digital information to a computer, and generating an output signal by means of the computer to drive a numerically controlled edger to cause the edger to shape and bevel eyeglass lenses to clone the demonstration lenses.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a variable configuration die by using a plurality of pins is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pin storing device for storing the pins therein; a pin piling device in which the variable configuration die is to be produced; a robot device for transferring the pins from the pin storing device to the pin piling device for making up the variable configuration die; and a computer-aided control device for controlling the robot means in such a manner that the pins carried by the robot means are placed onto given positions of the pin piling device to cause the variable configuration die thus made of the piled pins in the pin piling device to have a layered structure. The variable configuration die thus made up has a recessed die surface which is defined by one ends of the piled pins.

Abstract: A user interface including a dual navigational menu system forming part of a configuration or programming procedure in a process control device such as a flow controller. The controller includes key pad by which the user enters instructions and data into the device, a display for displaying alphanumeric information and a key pad monitoring means for detecting a predetermined user input indicating that a configuration mode is desired. When in the configuration mode, the pressing of direction keys is detected to sequentially advance through a menu system comprised of a matrix of menu items arranged in rows and columns. Means is also provided for detecting the entry of position data which operates to directly select a given menu item to obviate the need for sequentially advancing through all prior items in order to reach the desired menu item. When a given menu item is activated, random access memory forming part of the device is used to store data entered by the user.

Abstract: An improved high resolution method and apparatus are described for sensing and determining the spatial coordinates of a movable object with respect to a energized conductive surface. The coordinates of the object are precisely measured with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface.

Abstract: An NC program generating apparatus corrects the start and end points of a machining command with suitable patterns obtained by automatic judgement, as well as checking whether or not interference with the part shape occurs to thereby easily form an NC program which is free of collision, excessive or insufficient cutting or the generation of fins.

Abstract: A method of converting circuit design shapes into optimized numerical control (NC) data for controlling an electron beam (e-beam) exposure system. During post processing of a circuit design layout, shapes with angled edges are covered or filled with rectangles and triangular trapezoidal or paralellograms called FILLSHAPES. Whenever a FILLSHAPE is created, it is as close to the preferred size as possible to increase the likelihood of creating duplicate FILLSHAPEs. A proximity correction value which is calculated for an equivalent rectangle is applied to the FILLSHAPE. After proximity correction, groups of identical FILLSHAPES and User-Defined Macros (UDM's) are created. A summary record is generated for each group. A weight factor is calculated for each group and stored in the summary record. The summary records are sorted according to weight factor.

Abstract: A method and an automatic control system for dispensing a desired precise amount of a fluid from a reservoir by automatic control of a pump. The fluid is discharged through an operator actuable dispensing mechanism which is operated by a user. More particularly, but not exclusively, the system is associated with a gas pump apparatus. The system detects a slow-down or a stoppage in the discharge of the fluid by sensing a signal at the output of a counter which is provided with the gas pump. These signals actuate the controls circuit to sense parameters of the counter whereby to initiate a slow rate of discharge of the fluid from the pump during a predetermined time period before a preset integral amount and after the slow-down or after the reactivation of the actuable dispensing mechanism if a stoppage of the mechanism was detected.

Abstract: A digital control system includes an actuator (2) for controlling a state variable of a process, a sensor (3) for detecting the state variable, and an A/D converter (4) for converting the measured state variable into a series of m-bit digital signal words I(k). These are processed by a digital processor (5) which includes a digital subcircuit (6) for normalizing the signal words I(k) and/or stablizing the gain of the control system. The subcircuit (6) includes a comparator circuit (21) which receives at an input thereof a series of m-bit signal words a(k) related to the series of measured signal words I(k), the converter being in series with an integrating filter (24) and a quantizing circuit (25). A multiplier (20) is connected in a negative feedback path from the output of the subcircuit to another input of the comparator (21).

Abstract: An infinitely adaptive motor control positioning system is disclosed which uses a calculated variable velocity curve while tracking deceleration and acceleration before and after application of a power pulse so as to anticipate movement for continuing adjustable power cycles. This enables the system to optimize positioning accuracy and minimize elapsed time positioning a driven mechanism. Up to seven phases of drive occur in any positioning move. Each phase consists of drive cycles when the motor receives power (and thus accelerates) and then is void of power (and thus decelerates). During each drive cycle, different sets of equations are implemented to calculate an "ideal speed" based upon the system response, actual speed, previously used power, and the distance still required to reach the target.