Abstract: A measure of the current through a first terminal of a device in a three-phase power system is obtained for each phase of the system. A measure of the current through a second terminal is also obtained for each phase. To compensate for any changes in phase introduced by the device between the first and second terminals, the measured currents obtained for each phase at those terminals are normalized using a novel, generalized normalization transform having the form: G(&thgr;)=cos(&thgr;)U+sin(&thgr;)J where U represents a unit zero degree phase shift with zero sequence components removed, and J represents a unit ninety degree phase shift with zero sequence components removed. From the normalized currents, a differential current is then calculated for each phase.

Abstract: A system for monitoring power quality events of electrical energy provided to an energy meter via a service type comprises a memory for storing reference information reflective of different service types, a digital signal processor for measuring characteristics of the electrical energy, and a microcontroller for retrieving the reference information from the memory and comparing the measured characteristics to the reference information for the service type to determine the occurrence of power quality events. For each power quality event, at least one of a start time, a stop time, a duration, a measured phase, a magnitude of a measured quantity, and a predisturbance value, and a cumulative total of the power quality events is recorded.

Abstract: A method of handling an object using a robot end effector. The method includes providing a robot having an end effector supporting a pair of carriages, providing a pair of fingers for each carriage, moving the end effector over an object, grasping an object with the fingers, moving the object with the end effector to a container, and depositing the object by counter-rotating the pairs of fingers. One or both of the carriages is movable toward the other carriage to engage objects on a conveyor system with the fingers. The robot moves the end effector between the conveyor system and shipping containers for shipping the objects. Because the pairs of fingers counter-rotate, the friction forces between each finger and the tray is offset by the friction forces between the other finger in the pair and the tray. The improved handling method thereby maintains objects substantially in the desired stacking orientation within the shipping container. Preferably, an actuator is provided for each finger.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronically communicating metered electrical power is disclosed. A first processor receives voltage and current signals and determines electrical power. The first processor generates an power signal representative of the electrical power determination. A second processor, connected to said first processor, receives the power signal and generates an output signal representative of electrical power information. A output device is connected to receive the output signal to output the electrical power information. The first processor determines units of electrical power from the voltage and current signals and to generates an power signal representative of the determination of such units and the rate at which the units are determined. The output devices may be one of a display, optical port and an option connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating the volume fraction of carbon in the fly ash using a carbon in fly ash sensor that has a resonant cavity. The method first determines the volume fraction of ash in the fly ash. The method then determines the real and imaginary components of the dielectric constant of a mixture of pure carbon and pure fly ash, and the transmission factor of a signal from the oscillator in the sensor transmitted through the cavity due to absorption by material in the cavity. The method then determines the volume fraction of carbon in the fly ash by using the volume fraction of ash, the real and imaginary components of the pure mixture dielectric constant, the absorption transmission factor and the length of the cavity, the speed of light and the frequency of the oscillator.

Abstract: A device for and method of robotically crating objects, such as consumer goods, being capable of securing an upstanding enclosure to a recyclable pallet having structural uprights. The device conveys a pallet and enclosure assembly into a work station, installs a number of threaded fasteners into predetermined locations in the top and two adjacent sides of the assembly, rotates the assembly one-hundred eighty degrees, installs fasteners into the two remaining sides, rotates the assembly back to the initial position, and conveys the secured crate assembly out of the work station. The device includes the ability to detect the number of times a recyclable pallet has been used, and to adjust the exact locations of fasteners accordingly, thereby assuring that new fasteners are always installed into an unused fastener location.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering electrical power includes a first processor which receives analog voltage and current signals and converts the analog voltage and current signals to respective digital voltage and current signals, a second processor which receives the energy signal and converts an energy signal into energy usage data, and a non-volatile memory coupled to the second processor for storing calibration constants and energy formula associated with a plurality of meter forms, such that some of the energy formula and calibration constants are downloaded from the non-volatile memory to the second processor. The first and second processors cooperate to determine the energy usage data based on the energy formula and calibration constants downloaded to the second processor, and the apparatus measures at least one of real power, reactive power, and apparent power based on energy formula and calibration constants associated with the plurality of meter forms.

Abstract: An improved end effector for use with a robot includes a pair of carriages. Each carriage supports a pair of fingers and at least one actuator. Each actuator is interconnected with the associated pair of fingers to counter-rotate the fingers. One or both of the carriages is movable toward the other carriage to engage trays on a conveyor system with the fingers. The robot moves the end effector between the conveyor system and shipping containers for shipping the trays. Because the pairs of fingers counter-rotate, the friction forces between each finger and the tray is offset by the friction forces between the other finger in the pair and the tray. The improved end effector thereby maintains trays substantially in the desired stacking orientation within the shipping container. Preferably, an actuator is provided for each finger. A change-out mechanism may also be provided to facilitate replacing the fingers.

Abstract: An electronic energy meter and its package is described in which the meter package has a reduced number of parts, and the main circuit board assembly has the metering electronics on board, thereby eliminating the need for flying leads and point-to-point wiring within the package. The energy meter includes a first enclosure portion, a circuit board assembly for performing metering functions, a partial terminal block, and a second enclosure portion. The first and second enclosure portions are mateable with each other to form a meter package, in which the circuit board assembly and partial terminal block are at least partially contained within the meter package.

Abstract: A system and method for case-packing articles utilizing an infeed conveyor and spaced apart outfeed conveyors positioned at opposite sides of the infeed conveyor and a robotic operating arm arranged for transverse operation with respect to the longitudinal movement of each of said conveyors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect off-hook and intrusion conditions on a telephone line. A voltage to frequency converter is used to convert the voltage measured between the TIP and RING terminals of a telephone line to a frequency. The voltage is continuously monitored, once during each sample period. The measured frequency is compared to predetermined threshold values to determine the state of the telephone line. The predetermined threshold values are updated in each sample period.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a tool center point (TCP) for a beam tool involves the use of a specially design aperture and light sensing device. The method and system oscillates the beam tool across an aperture assembly such that light from the tool periodically passes through the aperture assembly. Center point coordinate information is then determined based on passage of light through the aperture assembly. The method and system further provides for calculating the TCP based on the center point coordinate information.

Abstract: The direct torque control (DTC) principle is used to control the torque of a wound ring rotor slip induction machine, also known as a doubly fed or cascade machine, by utilizing a solid state inverter on the rotor side. In addition, the DTC principle is used to control the power factor at the stator terminals of the doubly fed machine to a desired level and also to perform the task of synchronization of stator voltage to the grid voltage. An integrated controller is used to implement these three functions.

Abstract: A docking station for a robotic mail tray loading system includes a ground plate that is mounted to the floor of the building in which the robotic mail tray loading system is housed. The ground plate has first and second wheel-retaining recesses that preferably include ramped surfaces to accommodate wheels of mail carts. A plurality of guide plates are positioned to locate one pallet or two mail carts in the docking station at a time. The docking station also includes a plurality of sensors that sense the presence or absence of a pallet or cart in the docking station and that sense the type of cart present at the cart docking station.

Abstract: A temperature programmed module for use in a gas chromatograph. The module has micropacked column and inner and outer jacket tubes. The inner jacket tube surrounds the column to provide a space between the that tube and the column. The outer jacket tube surrounds the inner jacket tube to provide a space between the two jacket tubes. Air which has a controlled temperature flows only in the space between the two jacket tubes when it is desired to heat the column. Air flows in both spaces when it is not desired to heat the column. The temperature of the air is controlled. The module along with the sample injection valve and flame ionization detector are in an enclosure that is not temperature controlled. The air that flows in both spaces also flows in the enclosure to keep the heat from the valve and the flame ionization detector from heating the column.

Abstract: A web based name resolution service that associates one or more named entities in a first system with the corresponding names for those entities in one or more target systems. A XML document created in the first system is transmitted in a session and over a connection and protocol to a web server which activates an active server page. An object is launched that provides access to a database that contains the relationship between the name for the named entities and the corresponding name for the entities in the target system. A new XML document that contains the corresponding names is created and returned to the first system during the session and over the connection and the protocol that transmitted the XML document from the first system to the web server.

Abstract: A method for operating an actuating drive for controlling fittings. The actuating drive has an electric motor which is fed from a frequency converter and moves a fitting with a predetermined torque via a self-locking gearbox. In order to protect the actuating drive against unacceptable, destructive heating while maintaining operation in the surrounding process installation when an excess temperature occurs, the temperature of the actuating drive is measured during continuous operation, and the rotation speed of the electric motor is reduced as a function of the measured temperature while maintaining the torque. To this end, the amplitude and the frequency of the output voltage of the frequency converter are reduced in proportion to one another.

Abstract: A method for recording and removing the bipolar bias from a vibration input signal. The signal is a time varying signal where the bipolar bias has an amplitude which is many times greater than the amplitude of the time varying waveform of the signal that represents the vibration of the machine. In calculating the level of the bipolar bias the method approaches a predetermined dead band asymptotically and in stable manner. The determination of the bipolar bias level occurs when the next event has occurred and the time for that determination is much shorter than the time between occurrence of the events.

Abstract: An event marker is generated from the periodic input voltage received from the notch in a shaft of a rotating machine. Positive and negative peak voltages each attenuated by ½ are detected from the periodic input voltage. The attenuated detected positive and negative peak voltages are combined to provide a bias voltage which is subtracted from the periodic input voltage to give an output voltage representative of the event marker.

Abstract: An electronic meter incorporates a TCP/IP protocol suite and an HTTP server to provide two-way access to the meter data. Alternatively, the TCP/IP protocol suite may be incorporated into a gateway serving multiple meters connected through a power line or wireless two-way network. The gateway may incorporate an HTTP server for accessing data from multiple meters and for transmission of data to individual meters. Other aspects of the disclosed system include the use of a common gateway interface for remote access to meter data and to set meter parameters using HTML forms in HTTP browsers; remote reading and setting of multiple meter parameters using a TCP/IP protocol suite; a TCP/IP protocol suite implemented in designated nodes in a CEBus LAN with remote access through TCP/IP to routers and brouters and to individual meters on the LAN; and an SLIP-PPP enabled gateway for remote TCP/IP access through a serial interface to a single or multiple meter parameters.