Abstract: A motion controller and a method of controlling the motion of a plurality of axes which prevents a discontinuous position command being generated to a follower axis. A follower mode transfer function circuit or routine generates a position command in response to a master axis position. This function can be in the form of electronic gearing or camming. A bias latch is utilized to offset any change in position resulting from a change in mode, such as changing from electronic gearing to electronic camming, changing cam profiles or gearing ratios, or changing the master axis. The latch is summed with the transfer function position command and a standard move command profile generator position command to provide the follower axis position command. The latch is recalculated each time the follower mode is changed.

Abstract: A programmable data link module is used on a time division multiplex data bus. The module is functional as an input device, an output device, or both as an input and output device. It can receive data from the data bus during the selected time slot for a selected number of frames to control output devices connected to it. The data link module includes an input circuit for generating a data output signal data to the data bus in response to the input signals from an input device coupled to the module. The input circuit includes a programmable input communication mode selector, allowing the data bus and the data link module to function with or without a host computer. The mode selector provides simplex or duplex.

Abstract: A control system allows a user to access a programmable logic controller (PLC). system over a communication network such as an Internet network using a web browser. The system includes an Internet web interface between the network and the programmable logic controller. The Web interface serves Web pages from an Ethernet interface on a PLC and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter and a TCP/IP stack. The Web interface provides access to the PLC by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.

Abstract: An transfer body is provided for interfacing between field devices and a field master. One form of the transfer body is an input/output (IO) body. The IO body has a plurality of in-data registers for accepting data from the field devices, a plurality of out-data registers for sending data to field devices, and an identification register for identifying the data in relation to the field devices. The IO body also has an interface portion having an identification port communicating with the identification register, an in-data port communicating with the in-data registers, and an out-data port communicating with the out-data registers. The body can directly attach to and communicate with a plurality of different types of communications adapters through the interface portion for communication with a field master. The body can also directly attach to and communicate with a PLC type of field master through the interface portion.

Abstract: A phase controlled weld controller system uses an internal model of weld line and load impedance and of open circuit weld input voltage to develop a nominal firing angle sequence to maintain a desired weld current sequence. The weld controller computes a nominal firing angle sequence based on estimated models of line impedance, open circuit line voltage, and an estimated relation between the load current and conduction angle and the mathematical relation between firing angle, conduction angle and load circuit power that will achieve a desired weld sequence if the models are accurate. The weld controller subsequently uses measured values received in real time while the weld sequence is being executed to modify the nominal firing angle to better achieve the desired objective. This approach allows the weld controller to quickly achieve the desired weld sequence with the actual load, while permitting low feedback gains, resulting in a system that is quick and accurate in response without being overly sensitive.

Abstract: A door latch assembly, such as for a battery compartment of an electronic device, is disclosed. The door latch assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness. The door latch assembly further comprises a door having first and second clasps for receiving the respective first and second pins. Each of the clasps includes an aperture and a slot leading to the aperture. The aperture has a breadth substantially equal to the depth of the elongated surface, and the slot has a gap substantially equal to the thickness of the narrowed surface. When assembling the door to the housing, each of the slots slides over the respective elongated surface to receive and captures the respective pin in the respective aperture.

Abstract: A method for uniquely identifying a file, along with its particular version ID, used in an application program by a central processing unit provides a system for file security. The method computes a CRC for a file and then appends a version string and CRC at the end of the file according to its version ID. The added CRC/version record information is non-destructive. Once appended, the record will be transported with the file when ever it is moved or copied. CRC allows the integrity of the file to be verified at any time and is used to detect viruses or corrupted or tampered files at startup and also during runtimes of the file and its associated application. The operating system will store the new file length in a file allocation table and will also copy a file seal with the file. When used with a set of files for a particular installation, the file seal provides a unique bill of materials to identify the exact file contents of the particular installation.

Abstract: A power conversion system is described which includes a power input for accepting a waveform at a given power level and frequency, and a power output for providing an output waveform at a second given power level. A DC to AC converter accepts a waveform based on an input wave form from the power input and converts the waveform to an AC waveform having a frequency at least approximately an order of magnatude higher than the frequency of the input waveform for application to a DC to AC converter output. An AC converter accepts the output waveform from the DC to AC converter output and provides a converted waveform from an output of the AC converter to the power output. A coupling device operates at the frequency of the converter output for coupling the output of the DC to AC converter to the AC converter.

Abstract: An operator interface unit for monitoring and controlling controllers coupled to a communications network has a common database that is accessible across the network, regardless of each controllers data structure. The operator interface unit provides an apparatus for displaying, storing, and editing data obtained from the network. Data from each controller can be accessed by the unit based upon the individual controller's data structure and type through embedded objects resident in the interface unit's operating system and program. The data can then be displayed, edited, and stored by any data entry device that is capable of executing the operator interface unit's program.

Abstract: A phase control system has a stable timebase phase reference generated by an internal phase reference generator. The control includes a method for estimating and compensating phase distortion when an inductive load is driven by an AC voltage source having significant line impedance. A digital phase comparator estimates a phase error between the timebase phase reference and the voltage source. At the initialization of the phase control system, the phase reference clock period is frozen for a fixed number of cycles to determine an average phase error due to the phase distortion caused by the line impedance. The estimated phase error is then corrected to account for the average phase distortion error.

Abstract: A communications network is used to couple weld controllers and different operator interface units together, regardless of their data structures. An arbitration system provides a means for one operator interface unit to communicate to a selected weld controller at a given period of time. The operator interface units have one of three modes of operation. These include database master, primary master, and secondary master. During setup of the communications network, the master devices are assigned a physical address that defines the its type and priority within the network. The database master is the only device which can automatically download data to a weld controller. It has the highest priority as a network arbiter. The primary master will act as the network abitrator in the absence of a database master. A secondary master must listen for an access grant from the current network arbiter, before initiating a message packet on the network.

Abstract: A self diagnostic system is integrated into an application program for controlling a machine or process. The application program is comprised of various logical segments that have to be solved by a logic solving engine. The diagnostic program will annunciate an event when the application program cannot execute a desired response by monitoring certain preselected and marked segments of the application program and allocating memory to save the result. When an abnormal occurrence in these segments results in the desired event not occurring, the diagnostic system will determine what part of the logic expression controlling the event could not be completed. This information will be saved and used for annunciating the reason for the desired event not happening. The diagnostic system includes a special control module that is added to the application program.

Abstract: A user interface for a control structure comprising a controller, and physical devices coupled to the controller is disclosed. The controller is adapted to control and monitor the physical devices. The user interface is coupled to the controller for displaying representations of status conditions of the physical device.

Abstract: A liquid transfer tool allows a nearly empty plastic bottle to be emptied into another bottle that is to be saved. Shampoos and other liquid like perfume are very expensive and users of these products want to save every last drop in a bottle. The handy screw on caps include a mating portion that allows a user to screw both caps onto the bottles to be joined together for salvaging the fluid of the more empty bottle into the bottle that is more full through either a snap fit or male and female mating threads.

Abstract: A programmable data link module is used on a time division multiplex data bus. The module is functional as an input device, an output device, or both as an input or output device. It can receive data from the data bus during a selected time slot for selected number of frames to control output devices connected to it. The data link module includes an input circuit for generating a data output signal data to the data bus in response to input signals from in input device coupled to the module. The input circuit includes a programmable input communication mode selector, allowing the data bus and the data link module to function with or without a host computer. The mode selector provides simplex or duplex.

Abstract: An improved high voltage insulator includes a central core and an insulating body fitted tightly around the central core. A flexible coating layer is interposed between a part of the central core and the insulating body. The flexible coating layer fills in shrinkage cavities and compensates for a retraction effect caused by injected material used in forming the insulating body. The insulating body is overmolded to the central core previously coated with the flexible coating layer with an injected insulating resin such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin. The insulator could be used as a capactive divider or bushing insulator.

Abstract: A programmable data link module is used on a time division multiplex data bus. The module receives data from the data bus during a selected time slot for a selected number of frames. The data link module includes an input circuit for generating a data output signal data to the data bus in response to input signals from an input device coupled to the module. The input circuit includes a programmable input voltage level selector, allowing different voltage rated input devices to be used with the data link module. A hysteresis circuit sets a minimum voltage level threshold representative of the input device being in one logic state and a maximum voltage level threshold representative of the input device being in another logic state.

Abstract: A phase controlled weld controller system provides a stable timebase phase reference which has improved transient response in the presence of spurious noise generated by other external equipment coupled to the same voltage source. The system estimates a phase error between an internal phase reference generator and the voltage source. The system also estimates the phase distortion generated by the weld control when operating with an inductive impedance load when significant line impedance is present. The weld controller provides compensation for the phase distortion in the timebase phase reference using the estimated line impedance to realize a phase reference which more accurately tracks the voltage source.