Abstract: A system includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of an impeller. The system also includes an impeller condition indicator device, which includes a plurality of sensor interfaces configured to receive input signals associated with at least one stage of the impeller from the sensors. The impeller condition indicator device also includes a processor configured to identify a fault in the impeller using the input signals and an output interface configured to provide an indicator identifying the fault. The processor is configured to identify the fault by determining a family of frequencies related to at least one failure mode of the impeller, decomposing the input signals using the family of frequencies, reconstructing a impeller signal using the decomposed input signals, and comparing the reconstructed impeller signal to a baseline signal. The family of frequencies includes a vane pass frequency and its harmonics.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing a home appliance are disclosed. The home appliance outputs product information as a predetermined sound signal, and transmits the sound signal to a service center of a remote site over a communication network, such that a service technician of the service center can easily check a current status of the home appliance. The diagnostic system effectively detects data using multiple synchronous signals having a time difference, quickly diagnoses a current status or fault of the home appliance, provides a service for more correctly diagnosing a faulty operation of the home appliance, and increases user satisfaction and reliability.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory configuration analysis. A classification module 402 determines 1000 an overall performance of an array 706 of memory devices 500 in a computer memory 104, wherein overall performance has a substantially inverse relationship with a highest quantity of members of a subset of the array and a substantially direct relationship with an individual performance capability of the members. A counting module 404 takes a count 1110 of members of the array 706 whose individual performance capability varies 1108 in a selected direction from the overall performance of the array 706. A comparison module 406 takes a selected action such as issuing a memory configuration warning 1114 if the count crosses a predetermined threshold 1112 comprising a predetermined percentage for comparison with the count, as qualified by the individual performance capability, divided by an unqualified count of members of the array 706.

Abstract: In methods and systems that may facilitate detecting abnormal operation in a process plant, values of a process variable are analyzed to determine whether they significantly deviate from expected values. If there is a significant deviation, an indicator may be generated. Analyzing the process variable may include, for example, utilizing a plurality of thresholds determined based on statistics of the process variable. Analyzing the process variable may also include, for example, determining whether a first number of values of the process variable are in a first region, and whether a second number of values are in a second region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method to enhance detection and quantification of features in the wafer edge/wafer roll off regions. Modifications and improvements have been made to earlier methods which enable improved accuracy and increased scope of feature detection.

Abstract: An enhanced wheel data processing unit may analyze tire air temperature data from a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and antilock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor fault codes from an ABS controller within a vehicle. When the enhanced wheel data processing unit determines that the tire air temperature is above a predetermined threshold for a given tire and that an ABS wheel speed sensor fault code exists for the wheel end corresponding to the same tire, the enhanced wheel data processing unit may initiate a vehicle shutdown or derate procedure. The vehicle shutdown or derate procedure may include instructions to give an operator of the vehicle a warning indicator for a predetermined time period before shutting down or derating the engine power to the vehicle.

Abstract: Electronic supervision may be provided. First, a stock number may be sent to a database server. The stock number may correspond to an electrical cable. In response to sending the database server the stock number, specification information corresponding to the product may be received from a database stored on the database server. The specification information may be, for an electrical cable, a number of wires, a weight per thousand feet, and a diameter. Next, product production may be monitored to determine faults occurring during production. Monitoring the production may include displaying a data monitoring screen to production personnel. The data monitoring screen may provide data regarding the product and product comparison against a standard maintained within the database for the product. Fault data corresponding to the determined faults occurring during the production may be saved to the database.

Abstract: An error detection device includes a control unit configured to identify two links that connects a relay communication device to two communication devices as a link pair, identify, from pluralities of inspection devices under the respective two links, a number of inspection devices corresponding to the number N of links where communication errors simultaneously occur (N is an integer of 1 or more) plus 1, determine (N+1) number of inspection flows between the (N+1) number of inspection device pairs, and generate inspection coverage information that includes the determined inspection flows. The error detection device includes a storage unit that stores the inspection coverage information, and a communication unit that sends the inspection coverage information to one device of the inspection device pairs.

Abstract: A substrate transfer container comprises a housing including a plurality of substrate slots positioned within a gas chamber having an interior environment. Each substrate slot accommodates a substrate undergoing a substrate manufacturing process, the interior environment of the gas chamber being selectively sealed from an exterior environment. A detection unit at the housing is constructed and arranged to detect an environmental property of the interior environment of the gas chamber, and to generate a detection signal in response. A signal transmission module at the housing is configured to wirelessly transmit a detection signal received from the detection unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify a degradation of integrity of a process control system are disclosed. An example method includes identifying a file on a file system of the process control system. The example method further includes determining if the file is identified in a system profile, the system profile identifying files expected to be present. A degradation of integrity of the process control system is identified when the file is not identified in the system profile.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to predict process quality in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information relating to a process at a first time including a first value associated with a first measured variable and a second value associated with a second measured variable, determining if a variation based on the received process control information associated with the process exceeds a threshold, if the variation exceeds the threshold, calculating a first contribution value based on a contribution of the first measured variable to the variation and a second contribution value based on a contribution of the second measured variable to the variation, determining at least one corrective action based on the first contribution value, the second contribution value, the first value, or the second value, and calculating a predicted process quality based on the at least one corrective action at a time after the first time.

Abstract: There are provided a method and a system for real time monitoring of a powered on electrical network in a facility in order to detect an electrical anomaly while the electrical network is in use.

Abstract: The invention proposes a computer system for creating at least one machine-readable file for a medical treatment apparatus, with a database for providing at least one parameter set, an input device for inputting data regarding the flow behavior of the medical treatment apparatus as parameter set; an output device for creating and outputting a flow definition output file taking into account the input data; and a converting device for creating at least one machine-readable file or machine-readable data in a storage medium utilizing at least the parameter set. Further, a corresponding method, a data medium and a medical apparatus are specified.

Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring a turbojet engine. The method acquires a signal representative of a vibratory level of an operating rotor of the turbojet engine, acquires a rotation speed of the rotor during operation, compares the amplitude of the signal with at least one predetermined threshold based on the rotor rotation speed and, in event an amplitude peak exceeds the threshold, analyzes the signal over a time slot defined around the amplitude peak to determine if the phenomenon at the origin of the amplitude peak is a mechanical shock undergone by the rotor of the turbojet engine or an electronic interference of the signal.

Abstract: A method and a device for filtering diagnostic messages obtained from a plurality of elements of a system, each of these elements comprising diagnostic means capable of detecting a failure and of transmitting a message comprising at least one failure indication. The state of at least certain elements of the said plurality of elements is represented by a model of state. After at least one failure message has been received, this message is filtered according to the failure indication that it contains and according to the model of state. In response to the filtering step, the model of state is updated according to the failure indication or the message is rejected. The filtering step is advantageously based on a propositional logic mechanism.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatus for testing an electrical system (e.g., of an electric vehicle) that includes a high voltage (HV) energy storage system, HV contactors, one or more energy consuming components, one or more energy supplying components, an HV bus, discharge circuitry, and a control system. The control system is adapted to perform a method that includes performing a first diagnostic test to test the functionality of the HV contactors, and performing a second diagnostic test to test the functionality of the discharge circuitry. When the first and second tests have passed, the control system allows the HV contactors to be closed to enable an exchange of energy between the HV energy storage system, the one or more energy consuming components, and the one or more energy supplying components.

Abstract: Mechanisms for generating an analysis result about a machine are provided. A device generates a first health management (HM) analysis result regarding a machine based on real-time first sensor information received during a first period of time and on a first version HM analytic model. The device provides, to an off-board device, a plurality of sensor information comprising the real-time first sensor information and that is generated during the first period of time. The device receives a second version HM analytic model that is based at least in part on the plurality of sensor information and fault information that identifies actual faults that have occurred on the machine. The device generates a second HM analysis result regarding the machine based on real-time second sensor information received during a second period of time and on the second version HM analytic model.

Abstract: A system and methods to provide appliance field support personnel with a tool that, together with proper interface modules, simplifies the execution of diagnostic procedures and provides an easy way to configure, reconfigure, or update electronic boards in the home on a client side of an enterprise wide system. The electronic boards serve as electronic controllers in the appliances and are programmable generic service boards. With such a system, it is possible to update and re-configure electronic boards and interact directly with an electronic controller of an appliance while an appliance is operating. Software, configuration data, and control data are downloaded from a server-side configuration of the enterprise wide system to update the electronic boards.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting a nonlinearity in a cable plant and for determining cable length to a source of the nonlinearity are disclosed. Upstream signal peaks are detected by averaging upstream signal waveforms. The upstream signal peaks are generated at the source of the nonlinearity from naturally occurring downstream signal peaks propagating in the cable plant. The downstream signal peaks occur due to constructive superposition of the downstream channel signals. Acquisition of the upstream signal waveforms is triggered by the downstream signal peaks. The cable length to the source of nonlinearity is determined from a time delay between the downstream signal peaks and the upstream signal peaks.

Abstract: An automatic method for identifying biological samples that are collected using the wrong blood preservative for subsequent analytical testing. The method also provides for identification and/or suppression of certain analytical test results that are substantially or partly adversely affected. The invention is particularly suited for use in point-of-care medical diagnostic testing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a CPU usage adjustment factor and for automatically applying the CPU usage adjustment factor to provide a CPU usage estimate for an SMT processor. In one implementation, the methods and systems obtain samples of CPU usage reported by the operating system at a predefined sampling rate over a predefined sampling interval. Thread states for the threads substantially corresponding to the reported CPU usage are so obtained at the predefined sampling rate and over the predefined sampling interval. This sampling may be performed for servers running different applications and having diverse processing loads. An estimate of the distribution of the number of threads running for the CPU usages reported may then be determined from the sampled data. A CPU usage adjustment factor may then be derived, based on the distribution, and used to provide a CPU usage estimate.

Abstract: A testing method used to check if an application executed in an operating system is crashed. The operating system is provided with a first value corresponding to the application, and the first value is stored in a storage unit. The testing method includes the following steps: send a message in a predetermined time period to the application to request a feedback from the application, and adjust the first value stored in the storage unit to another value by proceeding a predetermined algorithm; reboot the operating system if the said another value is equal to a second value; reset the said another value stored in the storage unit to the first value if the application gives the feedback.

Abstract: A determination oxygen storage amount used to determine whether a catalyst is degraded is a value obtained by applying a correction amount for removing error caused by response delay time of an output signal of an oxygen sensor to an oxygen storage amount calculated every short time. The correction amount is a value that is calculated using slopes stored in memory, i.e., the slopes for the number of storage cycles (>the short time) corresponding to the response delay time, or the like, and becomes more accurate as a value corresponding to the error as the storage cycle becomes relatively shorter with respect to the response delay time and the number of the slopes stored in the memory increases. The necessary storage capacity of the memory is inhibited from increasing excessively even if the number of the slopes stored in the memory is large.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and a system for performing an adaptive state estimation process for processing semiconductor wafers. A processing of a first workpiece is controlled using a process controller and a processing tool. Manufacturing data relating to the processing of the first workpiece is acquired. Status data relating to the manufacturing data is acquired. The status data includes data relating to the source of the manufacturing data. A state of a process controller or a processing tool is determined based upon the status data and the manufacturing data.

Abstract: A system to predict a fatigue life of an aluminum alloy is disclosed herein. The system comprises a computer-readable medium cooperative with micromechanics-based fatigue life models for cyclic multiaxial loading. The fatigue life models predict the fatigue life by processing information received by the system relating to the aluminum alloy and the stress state present in the aluminum alloy. The received information comprises at least one of: a critical shear plane, a damage factor, a hardening factor defined by at least one of a plurality of uniaxial cyclic hardening factor parameters related to probabilistics of defects and microstructure characteristics in the aluminum alloy, an additional hardening factor related to non-proportionality, and thermophysical and mechanical properties of the aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A system for measuring real time efficiency/performance of at least one pump in a plant or other facility includes a plurality of monitoring devices disposed in relation to said at least one pump to measure power usage, pump speed and flow characteristics of the at least one pump. A processing system is configured to receive input signals from the sensors in which the efficiency of the at least one pump can be calculated based on the sensor inputs in real-time. The processing system can also compare the calculated pump efficiency values with a user defined set point or threshold or compare to the expected pump performance.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and circuits for detecting and recording timestamps for multiple events (222/322, 224/324) using a single input pin (252, 352) on a real time clock (RTC) (250, 350). Signals associated with each of the events are modulated to create a multiple level composite signal (240). The RTC includes a multiple signal level detection circuit to distinguish from among the various signal levels so that each event can be separately flagged and timestamped. For example, the opening of two or more covers (112, 114) on the housing (110) of an electronic device (100) can be monitored, distinguished, and separately flagged using a single RTC input port.

Abstract: A variable indication estimator which determines an output value representative of a set of input data. For example, the estimator can reduce input data to estimates of a desired signal, select a time, and determine an output value from the estimates and the time. In one embodiment, the time is selected using one or more adjustable signal confidence parameters determine where along the estimates the output value will be computed. By varying the parameters, the characteristics of the output value are variable. For example, when input signal confidence is low, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value is a smoothed representation of the input signal. When input signal confidence is high, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value has a faster and more accurate response to the input signal.

Abstract: A tool for evaluating operation of a generator is provided. Diagnostic data is obtaining from a sensor in a generator. An associated computer system evaluates the diagnostic data to determine whether an anomaly exists in the data. If an anomaly exists, the computer system can provide a fault code that indicates a nature of an error in the generator that caused the anomaly.

Abstract: A fault cause estimating system includes: an initial model generating section which creates an initial fault derivation model indicating a derivation among faults and an initial event derivation model indicating a derivation among the faults and events, based on a basic model definition; an extended Baum-Welch calculating section which creates a fault derivation model which is a transition of a combination of device classes and faults and an event derivation model which is a transition of a combination of device classes and events, based on a instance definition, a class definition, the initial fault derivation model, the initial event derivation model and an event sequence for learning; an instance derivation probability calculating section which creates an instance deviation model of a derivation of an occurrence device based on the event sequence for learning; and an extended Viterbi calculating section which estimates an event cause fault based on the instance definition, the fault occurrence location cla

Abstract: There is provided a circuit with control function including a circuit to be controlled so as to be operated only if a predetermined environment meets a specific condition and being arranged to detect, in any predetermined environment, whether or not the circuit with control function is normally operated, and a test method thereof. The circuit with control function includes a controller (microcomputer) for operating the circuit to be controlled (a heater) only if a predetermined environment (ambient temperature) detected by a sensor (a first temperature sensor) meets a specific condition (0° or below).

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for a steam plant, the apparatus comprising: a receiver (14) for receiving data from a sensor unit (10) associated with a component of the steam plant, the sensor unit (10) being configured to provide an output indicative of the operating condition of the component over a given period; a storage unit (16) which stores the data received by the receiver (14); and a trend analysis unit (18), the trend analysis unit (18) being configured to retrieve the data from the storage unit (16) and to process and analyse the data to thereby identify a trend in the operating condition of the component. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method of monitoring a steam plant.

Abstract: Over a diesel engine's lifetime, engine efficiency may be reduced and some of this may be attributable to sulfur deposit accumulation in the engine. A method for controlling operation of a diesel engine operating on a fuel is provided. The method may include adjusting an injection of fuel to the engine in response to a sulfur content of the fuel.

Abstract: A method for identifying an anomaly in an electronic system includes receiving, from a computer-readable storage medium, a plurality of entries from a successful simulation test of the electronic system, each of the plurality of entries including information about simulation time. The method also includes, with one or more computer processors, determining time sequence relationship between pairs of entries selected from the plurality of entries and identifying allowable sequences of entries using information related to the first plurality of entries and the time sequence relationship. The method includes receiving a second plurality of entries from a failed simulation test of the electronic system, each of the second plurality of entries including information about simulation time. The method includes analyzing the second plurality of entries and identifying one or more anomalies in the electronic system based on the analysis of the failed simulation test.

Abstract: A system includes a subsystem interaction module device, which includes at least one interface configured to receive input signals associated with multiple components of a system. The subsystem interaction module device also includes at least one processing unit configured to identify a potential fault in one or more of the components using the input signals and to provide an indicator identifying the potential fault. The at least one processing unit is configured to identify the potential fault by: identifying conflicting frequencies that are associated with different faults in the components of the system; and determining a confidence level associated with the potential fault based on the conflicting frequencies.

Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system evaluating performance of a printing device. In accordance with the method a diagnostic routine is executed on the printing device. The diagnostic routine evaluates performance of the printing device using a set of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The set of instructions are configured to identify a fault in the performance of the printing device based on an artifact identifiable on at least one diagnostic output. The diagnostic output is generated by the printing device with the identifiable artifact in accordance with the diagnostic routine for identifying the artifact and associated fault of the printing device.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an electrical power system includes analyzing data representing a signal of interest of the power system, the data containing at least one power system event; and based on the analysis, associating the power system event with a root cause. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: In the change from lean to rich exhaust gas or vice versa, signals are recorded by a lambda probe and are used to diagnose the functional reliability of this lambda probe. So that special reliability of this procedure is ensured, the change is triggered by an event. The event can be defined by signals of the lambda probe or can be caused by control actions of the operator in the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method comprises computing respective regression models for each of a plurality of failure bins based on a plurality of failures identified during wafer electrical tests. Each regression model outputs a wafer yield measure as a function of a plurality of device performance variables. For each failure bin, sensitivity of the wafer yield measure to each of the plurality of device performance variables is determined, and the device performance variables are ranked with respect to sensitivity of the wafer yield measure. A subset of the device performance variables which have highest rankings and which have less than a threshold correlation with each other are selected. The wafer yield measures for each failure bin corresponding to one of the selected subset of device performance variables are combined, to provide a combined wafer yield measure. At least one new process parameter value is selected to effect a change in the one device performance variable, based on the combined wafer yield measure.

Abstract: The present invention is an image processing apparatus that reconstructs one frame of image data using block-level image data, including a unit that receives the block-level image data to which position information has been added, a unit that determines whether or not there was an error in the transmission of the received position information, a first storage area used for storing the block-level image data corresponding to the position information for which a transmission error did not occur, a second storage area used for storing the block-level image data corresponding to the position information for which a transmission error occurred, a unit that infers correct position information for the block-level image data stored in the second storage area based on the first storage area and the second storage area, and a unit that reconstructs the one frame of image data using the inferred position information.

Abstract: Methods for managing response data within an information handling system (IHS), where the method includes the step of obtaining response data from at least one component in the IHS, the response data generated in response to receiving a command. The method also includes accumulating the response data from the at least one component to compute a total response time.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system includes using information provided from sensors to monitor a wind turbine generator and provide signals representative of operation of the wind turbine generator, extracting signal level features from the signals, extracting model based features from the signals, calculating signal based conclusions, model based conclusions and spectral feature reinforcement based conclusions, and fusing the conclusions to provide a fault detection indication.

Abstract: A method for metallic structure maintenance is disclosed. The method includes a magneto-graphic/Magnetic Tomography technique to identify stress-related defects. The method is specifically optimized for extended, non-accessible underground and underwater metallic structures in providing quality control, emergency alarms as well as timeline planning for structural repairs and maintenance work. Examples of the method implementation include pipes for oil and gas industry, detection of flaws in rolled products in metallurgical industry, welding quality of heavy duty equipment such as ships reservoirs, etc. It is especially important for loaded constructions, such as pressured pipes, infrastructure maintenance, nuclear power plant monitoring, bridges, corrosion prevention and environment protection.

Abstract: A unified communications appliance provides integration of various types of information, regardless of the modality, in a common, centralized interface where the various types of information are grouped based on what they are related to. For example, as is common with most modalities of information exchange, there exists a “subject” that is present in one of the fields of communication. The ability to associate all of the types of communication with a common “subject” (or conversation) and provide an interface that allows access to the various types of information, regardless of the modality is provided by the unified communications interface.

Abstract: A chip quality determination method includes the steps of (a) determining the continuity of defective chips in at least four directions of an X-axis and a Y-axis on a wafer based on the wafer test result of determining the acceptability of chips arranged in a matrix in the four directions on the wafer, and dividing the defective chips into one or more defective groups so that successive ones of the defective chips are in the same defective group; (b) calculating a quality determination index of each of one or more determination target wafer periphery neighboring chips among wafer periphery neighboring chips located within a predetermined range from the periphery of the wafer based on the distance from a corresponding one of the defective groups; and (c) determining the quality of the determination target wafer periphery neighboring chips by comparing the quality determination indexes thereof with a preset threshold.

Abstract: A system for monitoring plant equipment is provided. Another aspect provides an automated analysis system wherein software instructions operably compare sensor data to predefined valves and determine mechanical problems in multiple machines. In another aspect, a cement manufacturing system includes sensors for sensing movement conditions of cement making machines. A further aspect provides a central computer connected to vibration sensors associated with cement making machines, where software instructions perform real-time comparisons and machine performance determinations, based at least in part on sensed signals.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method for de-embedding. The method comprises forming a primary structure in a semiconductor chip and forming an auxiliary structure in the semiconductor chip. The auxiliary structure replicates a first portion of the primary structure. The method further comprises determining a transmission matrix for each of the primary structure and the auxiliary structure based on measurements and extracting a transmission matrix of a first component of the primary structure by determining a product of the transmission matrix of the primary structure and an inverse of the transmission matrix of the auxiliary structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing machine tools are provided. When a current abnormality occurs in one of at least one machine tool, a specific failure category is determined according to the current abnormality, and at least one suggested combination of parameters is generated according to the specific failure category and a transaction database, wherein the specific failure category is one of a plurality of predefined failure categories, and each suggested combination of parameters includes a plurality of associated parameters, which are commonly retrieved for the specific failure category. Each transaction data in the transaction database records a plurality of parameters corresponding to a failure category, wherein the parameters are the parameters whose parameter values are retrieved from the at least one machine tool, having the abnormality according to the failure category.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to statistics and calibration of instruments. More particularly, the invention encompasses the use of statistics to determine calibration of instruments. The present invention is also directed to a remote system for determination of re-calibration of instruments. The present invention also teaches the use of multiple statistical tests to determine need for calibration. The invention also includes a novel use of tests, such as, the F-Test, the Z-Test, to determine need for calibration. Furthermore, this invention relates to an alternate instrument scheme consisting of the use of redundant sensors and statistical analysis to avoid unnecessary calibrations and to detect sensors that are starting to drift before they go out of calibration. With this invention reduced calibration cost, increased data integrity, and reduced off-spec uncertainty is achieved.