Abstract: A system for the continual, real-time, in-situ generation of a Kappa number used by a process control system to control the delignification of papermaking pulps that includes injecting broad-spectrum light energy from a light energy source into the pulp and collecting the resultant reflected light energy from a near-and a far-light collector. The reflected light energy collected by the light collectors is analyzed by associated near- and far-light analyzers that generate analog output signals representing the intensity of selected wavelengths of light energy received by the light collectors. An included feedback arrangement conducts the light energy emitted by the light source to a location proximate the point of injection and then to an associated light analyzer that generates analog output signals representing the intensity of the light energy emitted by the light source in selected wavelengths.

Abstract: A solid state electrochemical sensor includes a conductive base layer which supports a chemically sensitive membrane, a guard ring layer located below the base layer and insulated therefrom by a dielectric insulator ring layer. The two ring layers define a central hole through which access to the underside of the base layer is provided. The side wall of the hole is coated with a dielectric oxide layer and a metal conductor is laid on the oxide layer and is ohmically bonded to the base layer. A second dielectric oxide layer covers the metal conductor and a metallic inner guard layer covers the second dielectric oxide layer and is in ohmic contact with the guard ring layer. A CMOS buffer amplifier (voltage follower amplifier) is formed on the lower surface of the guard ring layer. The input to the buffer amplifier is coupled to the conductor in ohmic contact with the base layer and the output of the buffer amplifier is coupled to the guard ring.

Abstract: A pipeline system of a process facility has a plurality of equipments, the equipments including at least one pipeline for providing a channel for a fluid of a process to flow. The process of the process facility is controlled by a process control system. The equipments also include at least one device for measuring a process variable of the fluid. The device comprises a sensor element for sensing a predetermined process variable of the fluid flowing in the pipeline to output a signal containing information about the process variable being measured and containing information about the fluid flowing in the pipeline. The device further includes a first filter to pass a first component of the signal containing the information of the process variable and a second filter to pass a second component of the signal containing the information about the fluid flowing in the pipeline.

Abstract: A double-acting electropneumatic positioner for controlling an actuator, the actuator having a first and second chamber, comprises a single-acting electropneumatic positioner which provides an output pneumatic pressure to the first chamber of the actuator. A pressure inverter, coupled to the single-acting electropneumatic positioner, inverts the output pneumatic pressure. The inverted output pneumatic pressure is then coupled to the second chamber of the actuator.

Abstract: A color measuring device measures the light transmitted through the material to be measured as well as the light reflected therefrom and the irradiated light and measures the color reflectivity in the various spectral ranges by dividing the reflected intensity by the difference between the irradiated and transmitted intensity. The calculation of the color reflectivity in the individual spectral ranges is thus corrected to the proper extent without the need to place color tiles behind a transparent material to be measured.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that includes means for determining the temperature stress the equipment has been subjected to is disclosed that includes a multiplexer with a plurality of inputs that read the temperature at various locations on the equipment being monitored. The temperature at each location is measured regularly to determine in which of a number of different-sized temperature bands it lies, thereby providing an indication of the stress to which the equipment is subjected.

Abstract: A sliding plate (16') is provided at its surface with grooves (38) expanding according to a V-shape with pressurized air being fed at the narrow end of the groove so that onto a material under test (12) guided via said sliding plate a suction force is exerted (FIG. 3b).

Abstract: A process control system including a method of suppressing overshoot of a process variable beyond the process value setpoint by predicting the overshoot by observing a waveform associated with the process variable, observing the waveform associated with the process variable, without regard to time scale or to amplitude scale, taking corrective action to reduce or eliminate said overshoot by utilizing a fuzzy logic module with a proportional integral derivative control to take corrective action of the process variable.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the position of a shaft along a longitudinal axis. The method is used with a device that includes first, second, and third light detecting devices arranged about the shaft in a specific geometric pattern, with the second energy detecting device mounted to the shaft. A light directing device is arranged to deliver light energy sequentially between the first, the second, and the third light detecting devices. The method for determining the position of the shaft comprises the steps of generating a first measured value by measuring the interval the light energy directing device travels between the first and the second light detecting devices. A second measured value is generated that measures the interval the energy directing device travels between the second and the third energy detecting devices. A percentage of shaft rotation is calculated using the first and second measured values.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the flexural stiffness of a moving laminar-shaped material web is disclosed that guides the material web over two stationary guide rollers and a deflecting roller. The deflecting roller rides on the material web and deflects the material web for a predetermined distance. A force-measuring device attached to the deflecting roller measures the force exerted by the material web. An actuator movably attached to the force-measuring device is actuated periodically to move the deflecting roller into the material web whereby the force related to the additional periodic deflection is measured by the force-measuring device and evaluated to determine the flexural stiffness of the material web. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is not used and the deflecting roller includes an eccentric cross-section which imparts on the material web a periodic deflection of the web.

Abstract: A module of a distributed process control system has a prior art kernel submodule, a peripheral submodule, and an interface circuit to provide for communications between the two submodules. The kernel submodule communicates with the interface circuit over a module BUS which includes a data BUS and an address BUS. The peripheral submodule communicates with the interface circuit over a peripheral component interface (PCI) BUS, a single thirty two bit BUS which is incompatible with the module BUS. The interface circuit permits such communications between the two submodules without requiring any hardware or software changes to the kernel submodule and the module BUS, nor to components of the peripheral submodule or its PCI BUS. The interface circuit includes interface registers, a control circuit which determines which submodule is permitted to write or read data and/or address into or from a given register of the interface registers.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining the position of a shaft that is rotatably displaceable about a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a magnet, first and second magnet-detecting devices that are arranged adjacent the shaft, and a third magnet-detecting device mounted on the shaft. A rotatably displaceable disk having the magnet mounted thereon is arranged to allow the magnetic field produced by the magnet to pass over and activate each of the magnet detection devices sequentially. A position-determining circuit connected to the magnet-detecting devices, measures the time interval that the magnet-detecting devices are sequentially activated by the magnetic field and applies the time so measured to a position-determining scheme. The position-determining scheme uses the time measured and the physical geometry of the apparatus to determine the position of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining the position of a shaft that is rotatably displaceable about a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a source of light energy, first and second light detecting devices that are arranged adjacent the shaft, and a third light detecting device mounted on the shaft. A rotatably displaceable disc having an opening near the disc's perimeter is mounted between the source of light energy and the light detecting devices. A position-determining circuit connected to the light detecting devices measures the time that the light detecting devices are sequentially activated by the light emanating from the disc opening and applies the time so measured to a position-determining scheme. The position-determining scheme uses the time measured and the physical geometry of the apparatus to determine the position of the shaft.

Abstract: For detecting the material properties of a moved material web (10) this web is illuminated along bands and the illuminated strip is imaged onto a two-dimensional camera (20) via an infrared optics (16) and a infrared filter device (18) consisting of individual strips with said camera being preferably an infrared camera. The pixels produced by the filter strips are translated into according absorption profiles within a computer (22).

Abstract: A card cage assembly (CCA) houses printed wire boards (PWB) by a securing mechanism which attaches to the PWB, and is one of a plurality of different types. The CCA has a rectangular, box-like configuration, which comprises a top plate, bottom plate, and a first or second side plate for providing tracks. Each track provides a front-to-back path for an edge of the PWB. Further, each side plate has a mounting plate perpendicular to the surface of the side plate along an edge of the side plate which forms a periphery of an opening of the CCA. Each mounting plate also includes a plurality of fastener receivers corresponding to each track of the side plate, and spaced apart such that a PWB having a face plate with an attaching screw mates with a corresponding fastener receiver.

Abstract: A remote seal differential pressure transmitter, when installed with its remote seal separated by a vertical distance, has an accurate output signal which is compensated for all temperature effects, including compensation of the sensors' temperature characteristics and compensation of the remote seals' temperature characteristics. Compensation for the remote seals' temperature characteristics must include compensation for the expansion and contraction of the translation fluid used in the remote seals and compensation for changes in density of the translation fluid. The changes in density and the installed height of remote seals specifically create a height/temperature error which must be compensated for when the temperature changes.

Abstract: In a process control system, having a controller, a display unit, and a console, an integrated keyboard is mounted with the console. The integrated keyboard provides an interface between an operator and the process control system. The integrated keyboard comprises a frame, configured to mount with the console. A full-travel keyboard is also mounted on the frame. A wrist-rest plate is mounted on the frame between the full-travel keyboard and the operator. An operator control panel, having individual keys, is located in a recess between the wrist-rest plate and the operator, such that the individual keys are not accidentally activated by the operator. Lastly, a cursor control unit is mounted in the wrist-rest plate.

Abstract: A control circuit for the interface circuit of a module of a distributed process control system permits its kernel submodule and peripheral submodule to communicate through the interface circuit notwithstanding that the structure and protocol of module BUS of the kernel submodules is incompatible with the structure and protocol of the PCI BUS of the peripheral submodule. The control circuit includes a module BUS state machine (MBSM), a PCI target state machine (PTSM), an arbiter state machine (ARSM), and an address decode logic (ADL) circuit. In response to control signals from the kernel and peripheral submodules applied to the control circuit over their respective buses, and control signals produced by the MBSM, the PTSM, the ARSM, and the ADL circuit. Which one of the two submodules is granted access to the registers of the interface circuit is determined by the control circuit which also grants the peripheral submodule access through the interface circuit to the memory of the kernel submodule.

Abstract: A method of controlling a computer window display of a display system having a display surface of one or more physical screens, provides an integrated workspace wherein multiple applications are displayed, by category, in a coordinated, predetermined area of the display surface. In response to a request inputted to the display system, the requested application display is created. A category of the requested display is ascertained. A lookup is performed in a configuration file to find a match between the category of the requested display and an entry in the configuration file. When a match of categories is found, the display characteristic data is obtained to get the position and size of the display. A pointer points to the next available area of the display area for the category of interest, and the display is created to be positioned within the selected available window.