Abstract: An advanced process control (APC) system, an APC method, and a computer program product, which, when executed, performs an APC method are provided for incorporating virtual metrology (VM) into APC. The present inventions uses a reliance index (RI) and a global similarity index (GSI) to adjust at least one controller gain of a run-to-run (R2R) controller when the VM value of a workpiece is adopted to replace the actual measurement value of the workpiece. The RI is used for gauging the reliability of the VM value, and the GSI is used for assessing the degree of similarity between the set of process data for generating the VM value and all the sets of historical process data used for building the conjecturing model.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an industrial process, comprising one or more sensors connected to one or more operating components of the industrial process; a remote monitoring station, comprising a computer and a database; and a connection between the one or more sensors and the remote monitoring station, wherein the remote monitoring station is at least about 100-2500 miles away from the industrial process, for example 500-1000 miles.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of using feedforward to control a system component may include determining if a feedforward term exists in a feedforward table for a received operating set point. If a feedforward term does not exist, the system component may be incremented until the system is within a first acceptable tolerance of the desired set point. In some embodiments, a measure of steady state error may be determined and compared to a second acceptable tolerance. If within the acceptable tolerance, the corresponding feedforward term may be recorded in the feedforward table. In some embodiments, if the feedforward term exists for the operating set point, the system component may be controlled using controller output that corresponds to the feedforward term. When a change to the system is detected that is associated with possible changes to the feedforward values, new feedforward values may be generated for the feedforward table.

Abstract: An extremum seeking control method optimizes a control process for a plant such as an air handling unit. The method compensates for abrupt changes in the operation of the plant by resetting the extremum seeking control strategy in response to a detection of the abrupt change.

Abstract: Primary and secondary apparatuses avoid concurrent performance of activities, wherein the secondary apparatus has a best and possibly different worst case minimum amounts of time required to perform activity. The primary apparatus ascertains a first future moment when it will become inactive and ascertains whether its upcoming period of inactivity will not be less than the secondary apparatus' best case minimum amount of time required to perform activity. If not, the primary apparatus asserts, in advance of the first future moment, an inactivity indicator signal indicating its upcoming inactivity. The interval between assertion of the inactivity indicator signal and the first future moment is greater than or equal to a difference between the secondary apparatus' worst and best case minimum amounts of time required to perform activity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for computer system performance analysis. All instructions are split into clusters based on significant offset gaps in top-down processing steps. Comments on instruction clusters can be generated automatically or can be edited manually. The comments can be shared among users for the achievement of portability. Significant clusters can be recognized as hotspots based on predetermined metrics.

Abstract: System and method of solving, in a single-period, an optimal dispatching problem for a network of energy generators connected via multiple transmission lines, where it is sought to find the lowest operational cost of dispatching of various energy sources to satisfy demand. The model includes traditional thermal resources and renewable energy resources available generation capabilities within the grid. The method considers demand reduction as a virtual generation source that can be dispatched quickly to hedge against the risk of unforeseen shortfall in supply. Demand reduction is dispatched in response to incentive signals sent to consumers. The control options of the optimization model consist of the dispatching order and dispatching amount energy units at generators together with the rebate signals sent to end-users at each node of the network under a demand response policy. Numerical experiments based on an analysis of representative data illustrate the effectiveness of demand response as a hedging option.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling an electricity generating system that includes at least one intermittent energy source generating plant are disclosed. An exemplary method includes calculating actual operating parameters of the at least one intermittent energy source generating plant; calculating forecast operating parameters of the at least one intermittent energy source generating plant; generating intermittent energy source contingency definitions from such actual operating parameters and forecast operating parameters; analysing the intermittent energy source contingency definitions to provide contingency analyses; and controlling the electricity generating system in dependence upon such contingency analyses.

Abstract: The particle swarm optimization method for microgrids formulates a control problem as an optimization problem and PSO is used to search the solution space for optimal parameter settings in each mode. The procedure models optimal design of an LC filter, controller parameters and damping resistance in grid-connected mode. Moreover, the procedure optimizes controller parameters and power sharing coefficients in autonomous mode. The method uses particular nonlinear time-domain-based and eigenvalue-based objective functions to minimize the error in the measured power, and also to enhance the damping characteristics, respectively.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an operation of a coordinate measuring device, at least one operational parameter is determined. One value of the operational parameter is allocated to a plurality of components. A sequence for determining the operational parameter is provided for the majority of the components. The method for determining the operational parameter in the predetermined sequence for each component is now described. It starts with the component that is first in the sequence: i) if the value of the operational parameter is allocated to the component, the value is adopted as a value of the operational parameter that is available for the operation, ii) if no value of the operational parameter is allocated to the components, one available value of the operational parameter that was available until then still remains available, iii) if another component is provided in the sequence, the method is carried out with the component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conversational automatic programming device or the like capable of generating an NC program in a simpler manner and in a shorter period of time. The automatic programming device is provided with, a machining-profile setting processor in which based on data for specifying a geometric entity selected as a contour shape of a machined portion, out of geometric entities of a geometry defined by two-dimensional CAD data, the geometric entity corresponding to the data is recognized, and based on the recognized geometric entity, a machining profile which is the contour shape of the machined portion is set; a CL-data generating processor for generating tool path data based on the set machining profile; and an NC-program generating processor for generating an NC program based on the generated tool path data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is technology for, among other things, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and a control system and a control method therefor, by which a target parameter that is measured from a wafer processed with a plurality of processing parameters that are processing conditions of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus to process a wafer, a multiple classification analysis is performed with the plurality of processing parameters and the target parameter to calculate a model formula expressing the target parameter in a selected parameter, a predicted value of the target parameter of the wafer being processed by use of the model formula is calculated, while the processing is being performed, the processing parameters of the processing is modified on the basis of the predicted value, and the processing is continuously performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating the amount of outdoor air that is introduced into a building are shown and described. These systems and methods utilize extremum seeking control logic to vary the flow of outdoor air into the building in response to cooling load determinations.

Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The system for process monitoring and control integrates statistical process control (SPC) with automatic process control (APC) through the use of a fuzzy logic (FZL) controller. In order to relate the inputs to the output, fuzzy inference rules are applied. The fuzzy rules are based on the use of the APC controller during normal situations, deviating to SPC as soon as abnormalities are detected. When the output error is negligible and the change in the output quality characteristic is almost zero, the fuzzy logic controller (FZLC) provides a utilization factor parallel for applying the APC controller. The FZLC has two inputs: the output error ert and the rate of change of the output quality characteristic dyt. The FZLC has a single output: the controller utilization factor wt. When ert is large and dyt is high, the controller utilization factor wt will utilize the application of the SPC controller.

Abstract: An industrial controller simulation system is provided. The system includes a simulation component that enables modeling of an industrial controller system. A suggestion component offers automated recommendations in accordance with the modeling of the industrial controller system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for gas turbine inlet air flow rate measurement using inert gas. In an embodiment, a gas meter may measure the concentration of an injected gas into an air flow. A processor may receive the measurement of the gas concentration and calculate an air mass flow rate based on the gas concentration.

Abstract: A flow control valve includes a housing that includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first work port and a second work port. The housing defines a spool bore and a pilot spool bore. A main stage spool is disposed in the spool bore. A pilot stage spool is disposed in the pilot spool bore. The pilot stage spool is in selective fluid communication with the main stage spool. A microprocessor includes a controller having a restricted structured controller and a compensation controller. Outputs of the restricted structured controller and the compensation controller are summed to form an electrical signal that is communicated to the pilot stage spool.

Abstract: A control unit of a system stabilization device uses a fluctuation detection block (60) to determine fluctuation components included in the active component and reactive component currents of a system current and fluctuation components included in the frequency signal and the amplitude signal of a system voltage. The high frequency cut-off of the fluctuation detection block (60) is set to be f1; the low frequency cut-off is set to be f2. The fluctuation detection block (60) is composed of a low-pass filter (61) with a time constant of T1, a low-pass filter (62) with a time constant of T2, a subtracter (63) which outputs the difference, between the output signals of the filter (61) and the filter (62), and a feedback circuit (64) which provides feedback on the output of the subtracter (63) to the filters (61, 62). Thus, stability is ensured without using a current detector.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for integrated management of a biofuel distillation process and a biofuel dehydration process of a biofuel production process, comprising a dynamic multivariate model-based controller coupled to a dynamic multivariate predictive model. The model is executable to: receive distillation and dehydration process information including biofuel compositions, receive an objective for biofuel production output from the distillation and dehydration processes, e.g., target product composition, production rate, and/or feed rate, and generate model output comprising target values for a plurality of manipulated variables related to the distillation and dehydration processes in accordance with the objective. The controller is operable to dynamically control the biofuel production process by adjusting the plurality of manipulated variables to the model-determined target values in accordance with the objective for biofuel production.

Abstract: A control model updating device includes a control model calculating unit that calculates a control model using analysis data, a control model updating unit that updates by accepting the control model, and a data suitability evaluating unit that evaluates the suitability of analysis data. The data suitability evaluating unit has a function characteristic prior knowledge storing unit that stores prior knowledge regarding a characteristic obtained in advance regarding the subject of control, a quadratic polynomial calculating unit that calculates a quadratic polynomial wherein the analysis data is approximated by a quadratic function, and a characteristic evaluating unit that compares a characteristic of the quadratic polynomial, calculated by the quadratic polynomial calculating unit, to prior knowledge stored in the function characteristic prior knowledge storing unit. The control model updating unit updates the control model if the two match in the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for monitoring an operation parameter of a process tool, independently of a process system recipe, are provided. In one embodiment, the behavior of a process device as it transitions between different states is monitored for a single cycle of operation or over time to detect trends that indicate a potential failure of the process device. When a trend that indicates a potential failure is detected, an alarm is generated. In one implementation, the time for reaching a particular stage of operation may be repeatedly monitored over a plurality of device cycles. For example, the time to open a valve or door may be monitored. In another example, the time for reaching a stable phase of gas flow after a ramping stage has commenced is monitored. When the time for reaching a particular stage begins to decline by a predetermined amount, an alarm may be generated.

Abstract: A Manufacturing Executing System (MES) implements a planned manufacturing process and controls the corresponding production at the plant floor in a method and in a system for managing and controlling manufacturing processes planned by an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and produced by the plant floor. The method includes defining sequential process segments. Each sequential process segment includes a plurality of actions to be performed at a plant floor level. The method includes the execution of a software tool including the steps of activating a sequential process segment and sequentially executing the respective actions. The method further includes defining state machines including a plurality of states and state transitions corresponding to actions to be performed at plant floor. A state manager tool is executed to define the state machines. A software tool is activated by the state manager tool to execute the state transitions of the state machine.

Abstract: A system for detecting a control loop interaction between two or more control loops. The system includes a processing circuit configured to store a history of detected loop disturbances for a plurality of control loops. The processing circuit is also configured to compute a measure of interaction between control loops using the history of detected loop disturbances. The processing circuit is further configured to determine whether a loop interaction exists based on the computed measure of interaction.

Abstract: A method is provided for analyzing and diagnosing a large scale process automation control system having a plurality of control loops. Assessments for pre-defined key performance indicators (KPIs) are automatically generated for control, process and signal sections of each control loop. The automatically generated assessments of the pre-defined KPIs may be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer. A user may change the automatically generated assessments of the pre-defined KPIs. Different data views may also be displayed in the GUI. The data views include time series trends for measured process variable, controller output, controller set point and error, as well as controller parameter clustering views in two-dimensional and three-dimensional plots.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a method is disclosed for assessing image quality of a down hole formation image, the method comprising collecting acquisition system data from a plurality of sensors down hole; applying a set of rules to the acquisition system data to obtain an acquisition quality indicator; and presenting the acquisition quality indicator at a surface location. A system is disclosed for performing the method.

Abstract: An integral laser imaging and coagulation apparatus, and associated systems and methods that allow an ophthalmologist to perform laser retinal surgical procedures with an integral laser imaging and coagulation apparatus disposed at a first (i.e. local) location from a control system disposed at a second (i.e. remote) location, e.g., a physician's office. In some embodiments, communication between the integral laser imaging and coagulation apparatus and control system is achieved via the Internet®.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device having an audible and visual interface for providing audible and visual instructions to a user in an event of an alarm or trouble indication in the electrical power system. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor configured for measuring at least one power parameter of an electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and detecting at least one event occurring in the electrical circuit; and an interface configured for providing instructions associated to the at least one detected event. The instructions may be in the form of text, audio and/or video.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and media are directed to tuning a device. Values are stored for each of a plurality of device parameters based on device metrics. The device parameters are constraint-matched over changes to settings of the device parameters to identify at least one point within each range of the device parameters that optimizes a performance measure for the device. Tuning values are selected for each device parameter based on the identified point. The tuning values are provided for tuning the device. The device is tuned with roll-back based on the running values.

Abstract: An alarm device includes: a detection device which detects an occurrence of an abnormal condition within a monitoring area; a transmission device which transmits an alarm signal when the detection device detects the abnormal condition; and an output device which, after the transmission device has transmitted the alarm signal, outputs an alarm after a lapse of a predetermined time after the transmission.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and a method for planning the operation of, monitoring processes in, simulating, and/or optimizing a technical installation comprising several units that can be combined with each other. Said system comprises at least one process planning module, at least one process simulation module, and at least one process optimization module. Components for modeling, simulating, and optimizing the technical installation are stored in said modules. The interrelated modules cooperate with a data management layer via at least one interface, said data management layer making available actual measured and/or historical process data for determining parameters and/or operational data for the modules in order to plan operations as well as simulate and optimize processes. The parameters and/or operational data determined in the modules can be fed to the data management layer for further processing by taking into account the stored components.

Abstract: A method for cutting out a panoply of parts. This cutting-out method includes producing data relating to points defining the contour of each part and to the position of each part in a Cartesian frame of reference of the panoply, grouping the parts together into at least one subset, each subset embodied by a box being considered as a single part; grouping the subsets into at least one set, each set embodied by a box being considered as a single part; establishing an order in which to cut out the parts from the subsets and sets defined respectively a cutting-out step in which the cutting-out tool moves from part to part in the cutting-out order.

Abstract: The present invention sets, for each cells or each condition, a production output of the cells or the biomass based on the measured data and a variable indicating an extent of variation of the production output, calculates a variable range of the production output and the variable in case of combining the multiple cells or conditions based on the production output and the variable set, and calculates an optimum combination within the variable range by using an optimization method.

Abstract: A device and method calculates and sends a manipulated variable via a network to control an actuator in a process. An indication identifying when the sent manipulated variable was applied by the actuator is received, and an applied actuator signal is estimated. Using a difference between the calculated manipulated variable and the estimated applied signal, a next calculated manipulated variable is corrected prior to sending the next calculated manipulated variable to the actuator.

Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method of inverting sucrose, including (i) determining an initial solids concentration of an aqueous sucrose solution, an initial bed volume of a sucrose inversion resin system, a minimum target inversion percentage, a maximum target inversion percentage, a target maximum hydroxymethylfuran (HMF) concentration, a minimum target pH, or a maximum target pH; (ii) contacting the sucrose inversion resin system with the aqueous sucrose solution under conditions of aqueous solution flow rate and aqueous solution temperature to produce an inverted sucrose solution having an inversion percentage, an HMF concentration, and a pH; (iii) observing an instantaneous inversion percentage, an instantaneous HMF concentration, or an instantaneous pH of the inverted sucrose solution; and, if appropriate; (iv) changing at least one of the aqueous solution flow rate or the aqueous solution temperature to yield a product having a desired inversion percentage, HMF concentration, and/or pH.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel techniques for graphically modeling, displaying, and interacting with parametric hybrid models used to optimize and control components of industrial plants and enterprises. In particular, a graphical modeling tool of a control/optimization system for controlling a plant or enterprise is configured to transmit a graphical user interface to a user, wherein the graphical user interface enables a plurality of command inputs relating to a plurality of parametric hybrid models based on a security access level of the user. The parametric hybrid models may be displayed by the graphical user interface as nodes of a network with connections connecting the nodes. The user may graphically manipulate the nodes and connections associated with the parametric hybrids models to either modify optimization constraints of the model network, or actually modify the manner in which the parametric hybrid models function (e.g.

Abstract: A maintenance information management method comprising steps of: by a terminal processing apparatus, transmitting, to a management apparatus via a network, maintenance work information about an analyzer on which maintenance work has been performed; storing, in a maintenance work information storage section of the management apparatus, the maintenance work information transmitted via the network; and transmitting, to the terminal processing apparatus via the network, the maintenance work information of the analyzer, which is stored in the maintenance work information storage section.

Abstract: This invention aims to achieve safety without interchanging an entire existing servo system to a servo system having the safety function. In a servo system including a servo motor, and a servo amplifier for controlling the drive of the servo motor based on the output of an encoder attached to the servo motor, a safety control device for monitoring presence of abnormality based on the output of the encoder, and shielding the supply of drive power to the servo motor if abnormality is present is arranged, and the monitoring content is set as setting information.

Abstract: Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) is an effective way to reduce energy and power consumption in microprocessor units. Current implementations of DVFS suffer from inaccurate modeling of power requirements and usage, and from inaccurate characterization of the relationships between the applicable variables. A system and method is proposed that adjusts CPU frequency and voltage based on run-time calculations of the workload processing time, as well as a calculation of performance sensitivity with respect to CPU frequency. The system and method are processor independent, and can be applied to either an entire system as a unit, or individually to each process running on a system.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating context offsets for run-to-run control in a semiconductor fabrication facility is described. In one embodiment, contexts associated with a process are identified. The process has one or more threads, and each thread involves one or more contexts. A set of input-output equations describing the process is defined. Each input-output equation corresponds to a thread and includes a thread offset expressed as a summation of individual context offsets. A state-space model is created that describes an evolution of the process using the set of input-output equations. The state-space model allows to estimate individual context offsets.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods, circuits and devices for providing data center cooling while optimizing power usage effectiveness and/or compute power efficiency of the data center. The various embodiments can provide optimized thermal performance and can reduce power consumption of the data center by strategically locating sensor modules, preferably microsystems with MEMS technology, in the data center and using a processing circuit to acquire data from the sensors and to generate a control law for operating the air conditioning system efficiently. In particular the sensors are operable to measure and provide granular environmental data to further characterize the environmental conditions of the racks locally, and the data center as a whole. The processing circuit may also generate a profile of local racks and simulate a data center environment to develop and test control strategies for implementation in the actual data center.

Abstract: An industrial control configuration can be a dynamic entity where different controllers are added, are subtracted, fail, etc. When dynamic functions occur, bindings of the configuration can benefit from a modification. Therefore, automatic adjustment of bindings can occur to facilitate improved operation. Automatic adjustment can be practiced when the industrial control configuration is a distributed control configuration without reliance upon a central database.

Abstract: Real-time condition-based analysis is performed on a machine for providing diagnostic and prognostic outputs indicative of machine status includes a signal processor for receiving signals from sensors adapted for measuring machine performance parameters. The signal processor conditions and shapes at least some of the received signals into an input form for a neural network. A fuzzy adaptive resonance theory neural network receives at least some of the conditioned and shaped signals, and detects and classifies a state of the machine based upon the received conditioned and shaped signals, and upon a predetermined ontology of machine states, diagnostics, and prognostics. The neural network can also determine from the machine state a health status thereof, which can comprise an anomaly, and output a signal representative of the determined health status. A Bayesian intelligence network receives the machine state from the neural network and determines a fault probability at a future time.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of conducting closed-loop control of a physical system comprising the steps of carrying out an initialization of the physical system to commencing closed-loop control, evaluating the optimal constrained control move using the system error and the initial normalized matrix using a control move solver; calculating a first control action by the sum of delta u(0) and the initial control action; and implementing the result to the physical system by converting the control action to an output control signal to effect a change in at least one operating variable.

Abstract: A machine vision system for controlling the alignment of an arm in a robotic handling system. The machine vision system includes an optical imager aligned to simultaneously capture an image that contains a view of the side of an object, such as a test tube, along with a view of the top of the object provided by a mirror appropriately positioned on the robotic arm. The machine vision system further includes a microcontroller or similar device for interpreting both portions of the image. For example, the microcontroller may be programmed to determine the location of the object in the reflected portion of the image and transpose that information into the location of the object relative to the robotic arm. The microcontroller may also be programmed to decode information positioned on the object by interpreting visual information contained in the other portion of the captured image.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automobile clutch in an automated transmission system with a CMPC control is disclosed having application to vehicle clutch control in an AMT system. The driver's request is translated in terms of sliding velocity ?sl. Constraints on the engine and clutch actuators are defined to respect their operating limits, and driving quality constraints are defined to guarantee comfort during the clutch engagement phase. In order to meet these quality constraints, a reference trajectory is defined for ?sl as a function of the clutch engagement time. An analytical expression allowing real-time calculation of a set of control trajectories with a CMPC control law is then defined from the expression of this reference trajectory. The trajectory respecting the constraints on the actuators is selected from among all these control trajectories. Finally, the clutch is controlled with the selected control trajectory.

Abstract: A result for a task may be provided in response to receiving a request from, for example, a user for the result. The request specifies a desired accuracy level for the result. The accuracy of the result is determined using the individual accuracies of one or more persons that have selected the result. Each person's individual accuracy is determined based on results for prior tasks previously performed by that person. The person's individual accuracy is proportional to the number of that person's prior results that are with a consensus of other persons that have performed the same prior task. The result is provided if the accuracy of the result is equal to or greater than the desired accuracy level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive control are disclosed. The systems and methods can control uncertain dynamic systems. The control system can comprise a controller that employs a parameter dependent Riccati equation. The controller can produce a response that causes the state of the system to remain bounded. The control system can control both minimum phase and non-minimum phase systems. The control system can augment an existing, non-adaptive control design without modifying the gains employed in that design. The control system can also avoid the use of high gains in both the observer design and the adaptive control law.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program are provided for automated closed-loop identification of an industrial process in a process control system. Multiple models (such as multiple model structure-model order combinations) can be identified, where the models are associated with a process to be controlled. One or more metrics (such as a prediction metric or rank) can be determined for each of the models. At least one of the models can be selected based on the one or more metrics. A final model for controlling the process can be provided (such as to a controller), where the final model is based on the at least one selected model. A band pass filter could be designed using some of the identified models. The band pass filter could be used to identify at least one other of the models or to determine at least one of the one or more metrics.