Abstract: An information processing apparatus uses a triad-based state transition model which is implemented in a state machine for making rational determinations on the state of a system of interest and for controlling the same to an appropriate state. The triad-based state transition model is stored in a memory unit of the apparatus and made up of a first group of states for defining natural behavior of the system to be controlled irrespective of forced actions; a second group of states for defining forced actions for directing the behavior of the system to be controlled to a target; and a third group of state for defining target states to which the system to be controlled may proceed from the first group of states as a result of determining natural behavior of the system based on a first predetermined threshold value, and as a result of determining a change in the system behavior due to a forced action based on a second predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: In a control valve abnormality detection method of detecting abnormality in a control valve, a characteristic expression representing the relationship between three factors in the normal state of the control valve is pre-set. The three factors consist of the displacement of the valve stem, a driving force from the valve stem driving device which changes upon displacement of the valve stem, and the force of the fluid which acts on one end of the valve stem through the valve. The three factors are detected on the basis of measurement result. On the basis of two factors selected from the detected three factors, the estimated value of one factor, which is not selected, is calculated by using the pre-set characteristic expression. The detected value of one factor, which is not selected, is compared with the calculated estimated value, and abnormality in the control valve is determined on the basis of the comparison result. A control valve abnormality detection apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal conductivity measuring device includes a diaphragm portion, a thermal conductivity detector, a temperature sensor, a control section, and a thermal conductivity calculating section. The diaphragm portion is formed on a base. The thermal conductivity detector is formed in the diaphragm portion to perform conduction of heat to/from a sample gas. The temperature sensor is disposed on the base to be near the thermal conductivity detector so as to measure the ambient temperature around the base. The temperature sensor is thermally insulated from the thermal conductivity detector. The control section controls the amount of energy supplied to the thermal conductivity detector such that the temperature difference between the ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the heating temperature of the thermal conductivity detector becomes a constant value.

Abstract: In a stick-slip detection method, the displacement of a movable member having a slidable contact portion is detected. A first quantity of state is calculated on the basis of the detected displacement of the movable member. A second quantity of state, which can be estimated from the first quantity of state, is calculated on the basis of the detected displacement of the movable member. An estimated quantity of state is calculated by estimating a second quantity of state from the calculated first quantity of state by using the relationship between the first and second predetermined quantities of state which are obtained from the displacement of the movable member in a normal sliding state. The calculated second quantity of state is compared with the estimated quantity of state to determine an abnormal sliding operation of the movable member on the basis of the comparison result. A stick-slip detection apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A building management set value decision support apparatus includes a thermal environment index calculation/display section, and a pseudo-thermal environment index calculation/display section. The thermal environment index calculation/display section calculates/displays the current value of a thermal environment index on the basis of the measured value of an air-conditioning control target and the measured or preset values of other predetermined parameters. The pseudo-thermal environment index calculation/display section calculates/displays a pseudo-thermal environment index on the basis of a supplied building management set value and the measured or preset values of the other predetermined parameters. A set value learning apparatus, a set value determining apparatus, and a neural network operation apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A differential capacitance detector comprises an integrator which has a difference between a capacitance (C.sub.S) of a sensor having the capacitance corresponding to physical or chemical quantities of an object for detection and a reference capacitance (C.sub.R) as constants, and an oscillation circuit which determines an oscillation frequency by the difference between the two capacitances (C.sub.S and C.sub.R). The differential capacitance detector can detect or measure various kinds of physical or chemical quantities, even if the change of sensor capacitance is small.

Abstract: An ignitor includes a first transistor, a transformer, an ignition member, and a switching control member. The first transistor is activated in accordance with supply from a DC power supply to perform switching. The transformer has a primary winding through which a switching current flows via the first transistor, a secondary winding for generating high voltage when the switching current flows through the first winding, and a tertiary winding for generating a control output for controlling the switching of the first transistor in accordance with the high voltage generated in the secondary winding. The ignition member ignites a target object using the high voltage generated in the secondary winding of the transformer. The switching control member prolongs the ON time for the switching of the first transistor in accordance with a decrease in at least one of the ambient temperature and the power supply voltage.

Abstract: An electrostatic capacity-type pressure sensor includes a diaphragm support body, first and second lids, a fixed electrode, a coupling member, an electrode support member, and a movable electrode. The diaphragm support body is formed into a tube shape. The first and second lids have thin diaphragm portions and thick fixing portions formed integrally with peripheral edge portions of the diaphragm portions and are arranged to face each other by bringing the fixing portions in tight contact with the two end portions of the diaphragm support body. The first and second lids separate the interior of the diaphragm support body from the outside by closing the two end portions of the diaphragm support body. The fixed electrode is formed on the inner surface of the fixing portion of at least one of the first and second lids. The coupling member has two ends respectively connected to the first and second lids to couple the diaphragm portions facing each other.

Abstract: An electropneumatic positioner includes an electropneumatic converter, an pilot relay, an operating unit, and a sensor. The electropneumatic converter includes a yoke having central and side leg portions, a permanent magnet arranged on the central leg portion, a pair of coils for exciting the side leg portions to have opposite polarities, a nozzle embedded in one side leg portion to spray air having predetermined pressure, a stopper arranged on the other side leg portion, and a flapper arranged to be swingable on a fulcrum near the central leg portion and serving to change a nozzle back pressure by controlling the amount of air sprayed from the nozzle in accordance with a swing. The electropneumatic converter receives a duty signal, as a driving signal for the coils, which signal is obtained by converting a deviation between an input signal and a feedback signal into a duty. The flapper is set to be parallel to the yoke when the deviation between the input signal and the feedback signal is zero.

Abstract: A seal diaphragm structure for a pressure measuring device includes a seal diaphragm, an insulating film, and an p-type semiconductor film. The seal diaphragm has a first surface opposing a target fluid and a second surface contacting a pressure transfer sealed liquid sealed in the pressure measuring device. The insulating film is formed on the first surface of the seal diaphragm. The p-type semiconductor film is formed on the insulating film.

Abstract: An internal model control (IMC) automatically corrects the gain of the internal model control when the settings in the internal model are improper. The controller calculates and outputs a manipulated variable according to an IMC control algorithm, and an adaptive tuning section adaptively tunes the model gain of an internal model such that change rates of the controlled variable and the reference controlled variable used in said IMC section become the same value during a control response period in a transient state. When a transient state of control is detected, a transient state detection signal is output and a response start region is detected. The change rates of the controlled variable and the reference controlled variable in this response start region are determined. The corrected gain of the internal model is calculated from the change rates of the controlled variable and the reference controlled variable in the response start region.

Abstract: The photoelectric distance sensor for sensing a distance to a sense object by irradiating light to the sense object, the photoelectric distance sensor comprises a light-irradiating section 3 for irradiating light to a sense object 6, a light-receiving section for receiving the reflected light from the sense object 6, an operating section for outputting the distance to the sense object 6 and the target value of received light amount fitted to the distance on the signal of the light-receiving section 4, and a light-irradiation-controlling section 17 for controlling a light irradiation amount on the target value of received light amount, and the photoelectric sensor is for controlling the light irradiation amount in order that the received light amount becomes the most fitted value according to the distance, and further the photoelectric sensor can enlarge the light irradiation amount according to the distance in near distances and can make measurement precision be improved.

Abstract: A remote data read system includes a plurality of accumulators including first transmission/reception sections of an electromagnetic induction type, and a handy terminal including a second transmission/reception section of an electromagnetic induction type. The plurality of accumulators accumulate accumulation values representing amounts of consumed power, gas, tap water, or the like, and output accumulated value data in response to data request signals transmitted thereto. The first transmission/reception sections receive external data request signals, and output accumulation value data in response to the data request signal. The handy terminal outputs the data request signal to read an accumulation value from the accumulator and displays input accumulation value data. The second transmission/reception section outputs the data request signal to the first transmission/reception section, and receives the accumulation value data output from the first transmission/reception section.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor is provided which is capable of highly accurately and reliably measuring pressure over a wide range from an extremely low level to a high level without being affected by environmental changes. The capacitive pressure sensor is constructed of a first diaphragm; a second diaphragm arranged in parallel with the first diagram; a diaphragm support arranged between the first and second diaphragms for supporting the first and second diaphragms along the periphery thereof to define a space isolated from the outside; a plurality of pillars having respective ends fixed on the opposing surfaces of the first and second diaphragms for securely supporting the first and second diaphragms; a movable electrode formed on one of the opposing surfaces of the first and second diaphragms; and a fixed electrode formed in the space without contacting with the plurality of pillars and securely supported by the diaphragm support.

Abstract: Pattern recognition method and apparatus are provided which can recognize not only standard typewritten characters but also handwritten characters and various styles of fonts without the necessity of learning, formation of rules, and complicated algorithm for extracting characteristics of patterns which have been required to conventional pattern recognition apparatus. A signal representing a pattern to be recognized is inputted and converted into binary signals corresponding to the pattern. The binary signals are compared with predetermined reference patterns having indefinite boundaries. The reference patterns each are formed based on one or more multi-dimensional membership functions. A certainty factor of the pattern recognition is calculated from the comparison as the pattern recognition result.

Abstract: In the photoelectric conversion method and apparatus applicable to displacement sensors irradiating light to objects and sensing the distances to the objects, distance-determining type photoelectric sensors etc., the method and apparatus arrange n (n>2) light-receiving elements in a predetermined direction, and divide each photoelectric current I1, I2, . . . , In of each light-receiving element in predetermined ratios k1 to 1-k1, k2 to 1-k2, . . . , kn to 1-kn; and lead the divided photoelectric currents to the first and the second photoelectric current output terminal, and control the predetermined ratios k1, k2, . . . , kn in keeping such relationships as k1>0.5>kn and km.ltoreq.kp (p=m-1; m=2 to n), therefore the arbitrary positions on the light-receiving surface can be set in high sensibility, and high speed responsibility can be attained.

Abstract: According to a method and apparatus for calculating predicted mean thermal sensitivity which is used to control an air conditioning or heating unit, an operative temperature T.sub.0 is calculated on the basis of a radiant temperature Tr, an air temperature Ta, an air velocity Vair, coefficients b.sub.1 and b.sub.2, and a coefficient n according to the following equation: ##EQU1## Predicted mean thermal sensitivity PMV* is calculated on the basis of the operative temperature T0, the air temperature Ta, a relative humidity RH, a saturated water vapor pressure Pa*, a clothing thermal resistance Icl, a variable h.sub.0 (h.sub.0 =b.sub.1 +b.sub.2 .multidot.Vair.sup.n), and coefficients a.sub.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a pressure detection gage, and a temperature detection gage. The semiconductor substrate has a thin portion formed in its central portion and a thick portion formed on an outer periphery of the thin portion. The pressure detection gage is formed on one surface of the thin portion of the semiconductor substrate and serves as a piezoelectric resistive region. The temperature detection gage is constituted by a piezoelectric resistive region formed by connecting a plurality of pairs of orthogonal minute line segments in a zigzag form. The two minute line segments of each pair are formed on a surface of the thick portion of the semiconductor substrate in crystallographic directions in which piezoelectric resistance coefficients are minimized.