Abstract: A technique is disclosed for removably coupling a shaft and hub to one another. The hub includes a pair of tapered regions near ends of its inner peripheral surface. The shaft may be tapered in a region designed to contact one of the tapered surfaces, or a tapered bushing arrangement may be used on the same end. On an opposite end, a tapered bushing is inserted between the shaft and the hub, and interfaces with the tapered portion of the hub to draw the shaft into tight engagement with the hub, with the bushing wedged between, during assembly. A retaining plate abuts a retaining ring, within the bushing, and a fastener through the retaining plate draws the hub and shaft tightly together during assembly. The retaining plate may receive removal fasteners which urge disengagement of the tapered bushing and shaft for easy and controlled disassembly of the hub and shaft from one another for servicing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for essentially eliminating cyclic disturbances in a motor control system, the method including identifying frequencies of undesirable components in a feedback signal that exceed a threshold level and generating a combined signal including sine wave components corresponding to each of the identified frequencies, delaying the combined signal to generate a plurality of identical but phase shifted combined signals, weighting each one of the delayed signals as a function of the magnitude of an instantaneous corrected signal which is the difference between a velocity error signal and a compensation signal and adding each of the weighted signals to generate the compensation signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stability brake for absorbing parasitic vibrations of a stage moved to a working position in a motion system. The stability brake includes a motor coupled to a flexure plate through a translation system. The translation system translates horizontal motion of the motor into vertical motion of the flexure plate. The stability brake can be mounted to a stage in a motion system, such as a linear motion system. The stability brake is operative to absorb jitters and vibrations of the stage when the stage is moved to a working position in a motion system and held under servo at the working position.

Abstract: An isolated-ADC and a method for providing isolated analog-to-digital conversion are disclosed. The isolated-ADC includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), a comparator, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The MEMS includes a beam element supported from a substrate for movement with respect to an axis, first and second actuators and a sensor. The first and second actuators are capable of exerting respective forces upon the beam element causing the beam element to move in response to analog input and feedback signals, respectively. The sensor detects changes in position of the beam element and produces a position signal indicative thereof. The comparator generates a digital signal based upon a comparison of the position signal with a reference value. Based on the digital signal, the DAC generates the feedback signal, and the isolated-ADC produces a digital output signal.

Abstract: A technique is provided for forcing greater voltage investment in an arc developed during interruption of a current carrying path. A source element is provided in a secondary current carrying path parallel to a primary path through the device. Upon interruption of the primary current carrying path, an arc is forced to migrate towards a dissipating structure under the influence of an electromagnetic field. The source material then begins to carry current and undergoes surface ablation, releasing gas which is directed towards the migrating arc. The arc is thus caused to expand further, increasing voltage investment and resulting in more rapid extinction and reduction in let-through energy.

Abstract: A stator assembly for use in an electromechanical machine includes an improved concentric winding arrangement. Groups of concentric coils are alternately inserted from both ends of the stator core. In other words, a first phase group is inserted from one end. The stator core is then rotated 180° for insertion of the second phase group. Next, the stator core is rotated back to its original position for insertion of the third phase group. The alternating process continues until all phase groups have been inserted. Preferably, the winding pattern utilizes a combination of full slots and shared slots, with full slots of different groups of the same phase being adjacent to one another. The invention permits the use of automated winding equipment in large inductions motors where hand insertion was often required in the past.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting an output value source for an industrial control device are disclosed. The invention avoids the problems associated with conventional output devices by allowing a user to define one or more attributes associated with the output device, as well as defining a binding to local logic. The user may thereby determine or select the output value source which will be used by the output device under a variety of system conditions, depending on configuration of the output device or module, the current state of the module, and the state of a network. The method provides associating the output device with a logic function, providing the output value according to the logic function, ignoring explicit messages from the network, ignoring value messages from the network, selectively ignoring fault messages according to an override attribute, and selectively ignoring idle messages according to the override attribute.

Abstract: A system for displaying instruction syntax help information to a user as instructions are entered into an editor or other tool. The instruction syntax is presented with the next parameter in the instruction highlighted to prompt the user for entry 6f that parameter. A database of instructions and their syntax is provided to facilitate efficient search and retrieval of the instruction syntax for each instruction of the language.

Abstract: A microelectricalmechanical system (MEMS) digital isolator may be created in which an actuator such as an electrostatic motor drives a beam against a predefined force set, for example, by another electrostatic motor. When the threshold of the opposing force is overcome, motion of the beam may be sensed by a sensor also attached to the beam. The beam itself is electrically isolated between the locations of the actuator and the sensor. The structure may be incorporated into integrated circuits to provide on-chip isolation.

Abstract: A system for determining at least one condition of a seal including an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source. The optical fiber is embedded in the seal and operatively coupled to an interferometric system. The interferometric system is operatively coupled to a processor. The interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the seal, rate of wear and remaining useful life of the seal based on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for decreasing speed of an inverter driven inertial load within a time period for use with a dynamic brake across a DC link including a controller for controlling the inverter to regulate the power returned to the brake such that, when a brake command is received, the power is increased during a power-up period while motor deceleration begins and up to a constant power level after which the constant power level is maintained by increasing torque such that the dynamic brake is fully used during the majority of a braking cycle and a method to accomplish the same.

Abstract: A method is presented for fabricating an electrically isolated MEMS device having a conductive outer MEMS element, and an inner movable MEMS element spaced apart from the conductive outer MEMS element. The inner element includes a nonconductive base having a plurality of conductive structures extending therefrom. The conductive components are formed by plating a conductive material into a pre-formed mold which defines the shape of the conductor.

Abstract: A part measurement system includes a press machine, a part measurement sensor and a press controller. The press machine includes a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The part measurement sensor is located in the lower die and measures a critical dimension of the part while the part is in the lower die. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the sensor, and controller processes a measurement signal from the part measurement sensor of the critical dimension of the part, compares the measurement signal to a predetermined threshold value, and generates a command signal to the press machine to either reject or accept the part.

Abstract: A part measurement system includes a press machine, a material measurement sensor, and a press controller. The press machine includes a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The part measurement sensor is located in the lower die and measures a critical dimension of the part while the part is in the lower die. The part forming rail is coupled to the lower die. The forming rail and the upper die form the critical dimension of the part. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the sensor. The controller processes a measurement signal from the part measurement sensor of the critical dimension of the part, compares the measurement signal to a predetermined threshold value, and generates a command signal to the press machine to adjust the forming rail based on the measurement signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field presence sensor independently evaluates the presence or absence of an object in a variety of frequency ranges. Conflicting indications of the presence of the object in these different ranges, such as may be caused by electromagnetic interference, is resolved through a voting system. In this way, band limited noise may be resisted while improving the sensitivity of the sensor and without reducing its response speed.

Abstract: An industrial control output device is provided which provides electrical isolation between device power and field power. The device includes two isolation devices, one of which is adapted to energize a power switching device, and the other is adapted to de-energize the switching device. The output device thus minimizes or reduces EMI/RFI emissions and provides fast switching times in selectively providing power to a load. In addition, the invention includes a method of providing power to a load in an industrial control system, which allows fast switching of a digital output with minimal or reduced EMI/RFI emissions.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving resolution of an encoder or other position sensing device that provides one or more signals indicative of relative movement between two bodies. The signals are employed to determine an operating mode, which varies as a function of relative speed between the two bodies. In one operating mode, the system determines an indication of position by interpolating between position information of a table. Position also can be predicted in this operating mode, which can be used to update the position information. The table is populated with position information based on a sample of the signals from the position sensing device, such as to provide the position information for the table. In another operating mode, an indication of position is determined as a function of velocity and time.

Abstract: A data construct set and method for use with an industrial process which is controlled according to execution code wherein a processor running the code generates requests to mechanical resources to cause the resources to perform the process, the construct enabling generation of diagnostic code interspersed within the execution code which, when an event is to occur, indicates the event to occur, the invention also including status based diagnostics generally and methods of using the data construct set for generating both execution code and status based diagnostics.

Abstract: A programming language for programming industrial controllers in relay ladder logic language, the programming language including both extensions to standard RLL rung form itself and extensions wholly independent of the standard form. The language uses a plurality of templates, each template including truly reusable relay ladder language sections. Most templates also include specifications identifying other templates which provide additional language logic required to define job-specific aspects of the referencing template. Using the templates a machine tree can be provided which mirrors an industrial process. By compiling all of the templates, a relay ladder language program can be provided.

Abstract: A safety system programmable logic controller provides for cross connection of inputs and outputs of separate independent control modules through the use of virtual wire connections passing as messages on a single logical backplane. The backplane executes a high level protocol that provides wire-like indications of communication failures mimicking those of separate physical wires.