Abstract: A system for programming automation by demonstration where a control program may be created or modified through the process of demonstrating desired behavior using graphical representations (or widgets) of physical, programming, and user interface elements. Widgets have state, or properties, and may also have inherent events associated with them or indirect events that are generated through the demonstration process. The general process of demonstration consists of providing several individual example behaviors. Complete behavior, and thus the resultant code, is generated through inferencing from a number of individual example behaviors. The process of programming automation by demonstration reduces the complexity of the programming task and thereby greatly simplifies the workload of the control programmer, allowing the programmer to concentrate more on the specific automation application at hand rather than on the particulars of the programming language or tools.

Abstract: A T-shaped blade, or one or more hollow tubes, are vibrationally excited by one or more piezoelectric elements to generate an airflow from a free end of the blade or tube(s). The airflow may be directed to, or drawn away from, an electronic component to cool the electronic component.

Abstract: A T-shaped blade, or one or more hollow tubes, are vibrationally excited by one or more piezoelectric elements to generate an airflow from a free end of the blade or tube(s). The airflow may be directed to, or drawn away from, an electronic component to cool the electronic component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for graphical simulation of physical objects are presented. Embodiments of the present invention contemplate using 3D widgets to represent physical objects as well as semantic relationships such as joints and constraints between objects. Interactive graphical markers are also used to directly manipulate properties such as material properties of objects and connection and attachment of blocks and joints.

Abstract: A shared wireless channel may serve real-time traffic and non-real-time traffic. Depending on channel conditions, the real-time traffic may experience variable levels of quality. The present invention contemplates systems and methods for guaranteeing bounded access time for real-time applications in a shared wireless network in the presence of non-real-time traffic. The systems and methods provide mechanisms to adapt to changing characteristics of wireless channels and to maximize throughput of non-real-time traffic while preserving the quality of real-time applications. The systems and methods may be extended generally to provide adaptive control over the delivery of multiple classes of traffic to protect the quality of critical applications over a shared transmission medium, including IEEE 802.11 networks, IEEE 802.16 networks, and DOCSIS networks.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program code for the measurement and control of sway in load transportation systems are provided which include using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices to measure and control the sway of suspended loads such as loads suspended from cranes.

Abstract: A T-shaped blade, or one or more hollow tubes, are vibrationally excited by one or more piezoelectric elements to generate an airflow from a free end of the blade or tube(s). The airflow may be directed to, or drawn away from, an electronic component to cool the electronic component.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a manufacturing system. The manufacturing system includes a plurality of manufacturing resources. A set of orders is currently appointed for processing by the manufacturing system. Each order of the set of orders requires performance of at least one task. Each task is to be performed by at least a respective one of the manufacturing resources. The method includes determining stochastic parameters for each task of the plurality of tasks. The method also includes calculating a loading profile for at least one of the manufacturing resources that is allocated to at least one of the plurality of tasks. The loading profile function is a function of time and represents a probability that the manufacturing resource is occupied at a given time. The calculation is based at least in part on the stochastic parameters of the tasks.

Abstract: An object tracking system includes a plurality of tags. Each tag includes a mechanism for transmitting a triangulation signal and a position signal that is indicative of a change of position of the respective tag in a time period since a respective reset event. A plurality of triangulation stations receive the triangulation signals from the tags. At least one antenna receives the position signals from the tags. A computer is coupled to the triangulation stations and to the antenna. The computer is programmed to switch between (a) a first tag location algorithm to determine a current location of one of the tags using a differential time of arrival procedure based on the triangulation signal, and (b) a second tag location algorithm to determine a current location of the tag based on the position signal transmitted by the tag and a previous known location of the tag.

Abstract: A T-shaped blade, or one or more hollow tubes, are vibrationally excited by one or more piezoelectric elements to generate an airflow from a free end of the blade or tube(s). The airflow may be directed to, or drawn away from, an electronic component to cool the electronic component.

Abstract: A load manipulation system includes a plurality of cells arranged to form a generally planar load manipulation surface. Each cell has at least one actuator coupled to an upper surface which forms the load manipulation surface. The actuator is operable to vibrate the upper surface of the cell within a plane of the load manipulation surface. The system further includes a controller operable to receive input from a sensor and send commands to the actuators to manipulate loads on the load manipulation surface.

Abstract: A system and method for singulating loads are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of similarly configured load manipulation cells arranged to form an array. Each cell has a generally planar upper surface and an actuation system configured for operation independent of the actuation systems of the other cells. The system further includes a sensing system operable to identify the general location of loads positioned on the array and a controller configured to receive input from the sensing system and send commands to the actuation systems to singulate the loads positioned on the array. The controller is configured to process loads received in a continuous flow.

Abstract: A configurable operator panel that uses a tactile sensor with electrically conductive elastomer and appropriate electronics is disclosed herein. The device relies on a robust and inexpensive tactile sensor that senses the touch position (and may or may not sense touch pressure as well). The physical interface is easily configurable along with the electronics, which execute the desired function based on touch location and pressure. The configurable operator panel is designed to communicate with most industrial automation equipment, including but not limited to, motion control equipment, programmable logic controllers (PLC), personal computers, and can be made to control other types of machines requiring external analog or digital input.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for connecting electrically conductive elastomer to electronics that reduce cost and time for manufacturing a tactile sensor that includes an electrically conductive elastomer such as a conductive foam. The methods provide a good connection between the electrically conductive elastomer and the electrodes connected to the electronics, which provide for repeatable measurements. The methods can be used for all cases of electrically conductive elastomers and elastomers made to be conductive with the addition of conductive particles (such as carbon, silver, nickel, gold, etc.) including thermoplastic and some thermosetting elastomers.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for connecting electrically conductive elastomer to electronics that reduce cost and time for manufacturing a tactile sensor that includes an electrically conductive elastomer such as a conductive foam. The methods provide a good connection between the electrically conductive elastomer and the electrodes connected to the electronics, which provide for repeatable measurements. The methods can be used for all cases of electrically conductive elastomers and elastomers made to be conductive with the addition of conductive particles (such as carbon, silver, nickel, gold, etc.) including thermoplastic and some thermosetting elastomers.

Abstract: A quantity of bandwidth currently allocated to a communication unit is determined and a display component of the communication unit is caused to graphically display information that indicates the determined quantity of bandwidth. The display information may also indicate a quantity of additional bandwidth that is available for allocation to the communication unit.

Abstract: A configurable operator panel that uses a tactile sensor with electrically conductive elastomer and appropriate electronics is disclosed herein. The device relies on a robust and inexpensive tactile sensor that senses the touch position (and may or may not sense touch pressure as well). The physical interface is easily configurable along with the electronics, which execute the desired function based on touch location and pressure. The configurable operator panel is designed to communicate with most industrial automation equipment, including but not limited to, motion control equipment, programmable logic controllers (PLC), personal computers, and can be made to control other types of machines requiring external analog or digital input.

Abstract: A system and method for singulating loads are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of similarly configured load manipulation cells arranged to form an array. Each cell has a generally planar upper surface and an actuation system configured for operation independent of the actuation systems of the other cells. The system further includes a sensing system operable to identify the general location of loads positioned on the array and a controller configured to receive input from the sensing system and send commands to the actuation systems to singulate the loads positioned on the array. The controller is configured to process loads received in a continuous flow.

Abstract: A load manipulation system includes a plurality of cells arranged to form a generally planar load manipulation surface. Each cell has at least one actuator coupled to an upper surface which forms the load manipulation surface. The actuator is operable to vibrate the upper surface of the cell within a plane of the load manipulation surface. The system further includes a controller operable to receive input from a sensor and send commands to the actuators to manipulate loads on the load manipulation surface.

Abstract: The tactile sensor has at least two conductive workpieces which bear on one another at a bearing area, at least one workpiece of which is produced from elastomer, with the result that it is possible to measure a contact resistance between the workpieces, which contact resistance is dependent at least on a pressure on the bearing area. At least one of the conductive workpieces comprises a conductive closed cell foam.